How many Telegram users are there in India, and what financial impact will the company face due to the ongoing ban?

Telegram Ban: The temporary ban on Telegram will remain in effect until June 22. While hearing the company's plea, the Delhi High Court refused to deem the government's order arbitrary or unreasonable.

Telegram Ban: Messaging platform Telegram, currently facing a ban in India, has failed to secure relief from the court. Dismissing Telegram's petition, the Delhi High Court stated that the government's decision to impose the ban could not be termed arbitrary. This High Court ruling is seen as a major setback for Telegram. It is worth noting that the government had ordered the disabling of Telegram until June 22 and the deactivation of its message-editing feature until June 30. Telegram had filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging this order.

How many Telegram users are there in India?

Telegram has tens of millions of users in India. Reacting to the ban order, the company's CEO stated that the government's directive was effectively penalizing 150 million (15 crore) users. According to various reports, India was Telegram's largest market, boasting over 100 million (10 crore) active users.

What is the financial impact of the ban on Telegram?

Loss of user base: While the Indian government has not imposed a monetary fine on Telegram, the company stands to suffer significant losses due to the temporary ban. The most substantial impact is on its user base; unable to access Telegram, users are migrating to other apps, and the consequences are already becoming apparent. Reports indicate that following the ban on Telegram, downloads of the Signal app surged by 72% on the Apple App Store and by 322% on the Google Play Store in India. Similarly, downloads of the Viber app increased by 216%.

Loss of revenue: Although the ban on Telegram is currently temporary, the government has leveled serious allegations against the platform in its affidavit submitted to the court. The government alleges that Telegram has become a "new dark web" and is being utilized for terrorist activities. If this ban is extended or the government takes further action, Telegram’s user base will likely shrink, inevitably impacting the company's monetization efforts.

A blow to the company's image—the ban and allegations leveled by the government could deal a significant blow to Telegram's reputation. Given these accusations, many people might now avoid joining the platform, a move that would result in losses for the company. Viewed in this light, the ban has come as a massive upheaval for Telegram.