Total Indian wireless subscriber base grows 0.21 percent at end of August 2013

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Total wireless subscriber base increased from 874.88 million in July 2013 to 876.72 million at the end of August 2013, registering a monthly growth of 0.21 percent.

The share of urban wireless subscribers has declined from 60.10 percent to 59.98 percent, whereas share of rural wireless subscribers has increased from 39.90 percent to 40.02 percent. As per the latest data released by TRAI on telecom subscribers, the overall wireless Teledensity in India has reached 71.21 from 71.13 of previous month.

Wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 525.78 million in July 2013 to 525.84 million at the end of August 2013. The wireless subscription in rural areas increased from 349.09 million to 350.88 million during the same period.

The urban wireless Teledensity has decreased from 139.87 to 139.65 whereas rural Teledensity has increased from 40.88 to 41.05. Private operators hold 88.38 percent of the wireless market share (based on subscriber base) where as BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU operators hold only 11.62 percent market share.

On the other hand, the wireline subscriber base declined from 29.58 million at the end of July 2013 to 29.46 million at the end of August 2013. Net reduction in wireline subscriber base was 0.12 million at the rate of 0.41 percent.

The share of urban subscribers has increased from 78.22 percent to 78.31 percent, whereas share of rural subscribers has decreased from 21.78 percent to 21.69 percent. The overall wireline teledensity has decreased from 2.40 in July 2013 to 2.39 in August 2013, with urban and rural Teledensity being 6.13 and 0.75 respectively. BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU operators hold 78.48 percent of the wireline market share.