TRAI releases data for June 2013, wireless segment registers 0.36 per cent monthly growth

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the number of telephone subscribers increased by 0.34 per cent from 900.05 million as of May 31, 2013 to 903.09 million as of June 30, 2013. The share of urban subscribers in total telecom users decreased from 60.59 per cent to 60.40 per cent in the same period, while the share of rural subscribers increased from 39.41 per cent to 39.60 per cent. Overall teledensity increased from 73.33 per cent to 73.50 per cent in the period under consideration.

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The number of subscriptions in urban areas increased from 545.75 million in May 2013 to 545.48 million in June 2013, while rural subscriptions increased from 354.75 million to 357.61 million during the same period. Overall urban teledensity has witnessed a marginal decline from 145.54 per cent to 145.35 per cent, while rural teledensity has increased from 41.60 per cent to 41.90 per cent.

Meanwhile, the wireless segment registered 0.36 per cent monthly growth in the period under consideration, from 870.20 million to 873.36 million. The share of urban customers has decreased from 59.99 per cent to 59.80 per cent, while the share of rural subscribers has increased from 40.01 per cent to 40.20 per cent.

The overall wireless teledensity stood at 71.08 per cent, from 70.90 per cent. The number of wireless subscriptions in urban areas increased from 522.01 million in May 2013 to 522.27 million in end-June 2013. Meanwhile, the number of wireless subscriptions in rural areas increased from 348.19 million to 351.10 million during the same period.

As per TRAI, private operators account for 88.26 per cent share of the wireless market, while Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) account for the remaining.

The wireline subscriber base continued to decline and stood at 29.73 million at the end of June 2013, from 29.85 million in end-May 2013.

The share of urban subscribers has increased from 78.03 per cent to 78.11 per cent in the period under consideration, while the share of rural subscribers has declined from 21.97 per cent to 21.89 per cent. The overall wireline teledensity has decreased from 2.43 per cent in May 2013 to 2.42 per cent in June 2013, with urban and rural teledensity at 6.19 per cent and 0.76 per cent respectively.

BSNL and MTNL hold 78.85 per cent market share in this space. During this period, the total broadband subscriber base increased from 15.13 million to 15.19 million, registering a monthly growth of 0.39 per cent.