India now has 861 million telephone subscribers

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 874.68 million at the end of May 2011 from 861.48 million at the end of April 2011, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

A TRAI report on Thrusday said that the growth rate was at 1.53 per cent. The share of urban subscriber

has marginally declined to 66.38 per cent from 66.56 per cent where as share of rural

subscribers has marginally increased from 33.44 per cent  to 33.62 per cent.

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With this, the overall tele-density in India reaches to 73.11 at the end of May, 2011 from 72.08 of the previous month, the report said.

According to the report, the subscription in urban areas grew from 573.36 million in April 2011 to 580.62 million at the end of May 2011. Rural subscription increased from 288.12 million to 294.07 million. The growth of rural subscription (2.06 pc) is higher than the Urban Subscription (1.27 pc).

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The overall urbanteledensity has increased from 159.63 to 161.37 and rural teledensity increased from 34.47 to 35.15.

Wireless Segment (GSM, CDMA & FWP)

According to TRAI, the total wireless subscriber base increased from 826.93 million in April 2011

to 840.28 million at the end of May 2011, registering a growth of 1.61 pc.

The share of urban subscriber has marginally decreased to 66.02 pc from 66.20 pc where as share of Rural subscribers has marginally increased from 33.80 pc to 33.98 pc. The overall wireless tele-density in India

reaches 70.23.

The wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 547.42 million in April 2011 to 554.75 million at the end of May 2011. Rural subscription increased from 279.51 million to 285.53 million during the same period.

This shows higher growth in rural subscription (2.15 pc) than urban subscription (1.34pc).

The urban wireless tele-density has increased from 152.41 to 154.18 and rural teledensity has increased from

33.44 to 34.13

The report said that the private operators hold 88.30 pc of the wireless market share where as BSNL and MTNL, two PSU operators hold only 11.70 pc market share.