The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India reported that the country had 1.11 billion internet subscriptions at the end of June 2026, according to MediaNama. This figure represents an increase of 21.35 million connections from March 2026. The data indicates that 666.07 million subscriptions were located in urban areas, while 448.08 million were in rural areas. Urban connections added 14.15 million new lines in the quarter, whereas rural areas saw a rise of 7.20 million. MediaNama noted that these figures count internet connections rather than individual users, meaning a single person may hold multiple subscriptions.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the largest number of internet subscriptions among Indian states, with 155.39 million connections, followed by Maharashtra at 130.10 million and Karnataka at 71.69 million. Delhi led in penetration, with 176.43 subscriptions per 100 people, while Bihar had the lowest figure at 50.93 per 100 people. TRAI started counting Airtel’s machine-to-machine SIMs in its totals from the March 2026 quarter, a change that impacts comparisons with earlier periods.
In Dubai, the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment released data showing that real gross domestic product reached approximately Dh473 billion in the first half of 2026, according to Khaleej Times. This marks a 2.3 percent drop from the prior year, when real GDP stood at around Dh484 billion. GDP at current prices amounted to approximately Dh505 billion, representing a 0.2 percent increase. The report attributed the overall performance to rapid shifts in the global economic environment, which affected various activities to differing degrees.
Despite the overall contraction, specific sectors in Dubai recorded positive growth. Financial and insurance activities posted 8.8 percent real growth, lifting value added to approximately Dh65.9 billion. The healthcare sector grew by 14.3 percent in real terms, while the information and communication sector expanded by 2.7 percent in constant prices. Helal Saeed Almarri, head of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said the results show an economy capable of navigating global uncertainty. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, head of Digital Dubai, added that sectoral diversity remains a key strength of the local economy.