India is the world's second-largest telecommunications market, with over 1.21 billion subscribers as of July 2017. The wireless segment (98.02 per cent of total telephone subscriptions) dominates the market. It has also been growing at a brisk pace. During FY07-17, wireless subscriptions witnessed a CAGR of 21.64 per cent to reach1,186.8 million. It is also the second largest country in terms of internet subscribers. The country is now the world’s second largest smartphone market and will have almost one billion unique mobile subscribers by 2020.
India’s telecommunications market is expected to experience further growth, fuelled by increased non-voice revenues and higher penetration in rural market. Telecom penetration in the nation's rural market increased to 57.45 per cent by July 2017. The emergence of an affluent middle class is triggering demand for the mobile and internet segments.
Strong policy support from the government has been crucial to the sector’s development. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap in the telecom sector has been increased to 100 per cent from 74 per cent.