Telecom subscriber base reaches 90.3 cr in June

New Delhi: India had 90.3 crore telecom subscribers in June, up 0.34 percent over the previous month, as per the data released by sectoral regulator Trai.

"The number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 903.09 million at the end of June, 2013 from 900.05 million at the end of May 2013, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.34 percent," Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said in a statement.

In May too the telecom subscriber base saw a growth of 0.34 percent when it second time crossed the 90 crore mark.[caption id="attachment_1090561" align="alignleft" width="380"] Telecom customer base growing slowly. Reuters[/caption]

While mobile services providers added over 31.6 lakh new customers, there was decline of 1.2 lakh landline subscribers in June.

In the total subscriber base, share of urban subscribers decreased marginally to 60.40 percent from 60.59 percent, whereas in rural areas it increased from 39.41 percent to 39.60 percent in June, Trai said.

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The growth in the mobile segment was lead by telecom major Bharti Airtel which added over 12.63 lakh new customers in June. It was closely followed by Idea Cellular which added over 12.09 lakh new customers.

Reliance Communications occupied third slot in terms of new subscriber addition by attracting over 8.33 lakh customers, followed by Aircel with 6.11 lakh and Vodafone with 3.47 lakh new customer addition.

Videocon registered maximum growth rate of 5.81 percent in its subscriber base though it added only 1.32 lakh new customers during the reported month. Uninor added 2.95 lakh new customers in June.

The growth in subscribers base was impacted by six companies -- Tata Teleservices, Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL), MTNL, Loop, BSNL, and Quadrant Televentures losing their customers.

Tata Teleservices lost 6.39 lakh customers from its network. New operator SSTL lost 3.5 lakh customers, Loop Mobile lost 1.52 lakh customers, BSNL 75,000 and Quadrant, 23,000 during the month.

Over 20 lakh customers in June requested for change in their service provider under Mobile Number Portability facility.

Out of the total 87.33 crore mobile subscribers, 73.14 crore customers were found to be active on a particular date in June.

Total broadband subscriber base increased from 1.513 crore at the end of May 2013 to 1.519 crore at the end of June, Trai said.

PTI