The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released subscriber data for May 2013.

As per the regulator, the number of telephone subscribers increased from 897.02 million in end-April 2013to 900.05 million in end-May 2013, registering growth of 0.34 per cent. The share of urban subscribers decreased from 60.71 per cent to 60.59 per cent in the same period, while the share of rural subscribers increased from 39.29 per cent to 39.41 per cent. Meanwhile, overall teledensity increased from 73.16 per cent to 73.33 per cent in the period under consideration.

The number of subscriptions  in  urban  areas increased  from  544.55  million in April 2013 to  545.75  million  in end-May 2013, while rural subscriptions increased  from  352.47  million  to 354.75 million during the same period. Overall urban

teledensity has  witnessed a marginal decline from  145.58  per cent to  145.54  per cent, while rural teledensity  has increased  from  41.37 per cent to 41.60 per cent.

Meanwhile, the wireless segment registered 0.37 per cent monthly growth in the period under consideration, from 867.02 million to 870.20 million.  The share of urban customers has decreased from 60.11 per cent to 59.99 per cent, while the share of rural subscribers has increased from 39.89 per cent to 40.01 per cent.

The overall wireless teledensity stood at 70.90 per cent, from 70.71 per cent. The number of wireless subscriptions in urban areas increased from 521.18 million in April 2013 to 522.01 million in end-May 2013. Meanwhile, the number of wireless subscriptions in rural areas  increased  from  345.85 million  to  348.19  million  during  the  same  period.

As per TRAI, private operators account for 88.18 per cent share of the wireless market, while Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) account for 11.82 per cent share.

The wireline subscriber base continued to decline and stood at 29.85 million in end-May 2013, from 29.99 million in end-April 2013.

The share of urban subscribers has increased from 77.93 per cent to 78.03 per cent in the period under consideration, while the share of rural subscribers has declined from

22.07 per cent to 21.97 per cent. The overall wireline teledensity  has decreased  from  2.45 per cent in April  2013  to  2.43  per cent in  May  2013,  with  urban  and  rural  teledensity  at 6.22 per cent and 0.77 per cent respectively.

BSNL and MTNL hold 78.95 per cent market share in this space.

During this period, the total broadband subscriber base increased from 15.09 million to 15.13 million, registering a monthly growth of 0.23 per cent.