India’s Mobile Subscriber Base Hits 953.8 Million in October: COAI

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has released it telecom subscriber figures for the month ending in October 2017, noting that the total base has hit 953.80 million mobile subscribers, adding a total of 3.1 million in the month. COAI says the data also includes the figures of Reliance Jio and MTNL by the end of August 2017, as provided by TRAI.

Airtel held on to the top position with a 29.90 percent market share, adding 3.15 million subscribers during October, to take its total subscriber base to 285.20 million subscribers. Vodafone holds a 21.84 percent market share, adding 0.88 million subscribers and taking its total base to 208.32 million subscribers. Idea Cellular on the other hand ended the month with a 20.01 percent market share, reaching 190.87 million subscribers after adding 0.17 million subscribers.

Reliance Jio was fourth with a 13.91 percent share and 132.68 subscribers, while Aircel was fifth with a 9.25 percent share and 88.25 million subscribers, seeing a drop of 0.01 million subscribers during the month. Telenor was sixth, with a 4.7 percent share and 44.87 million subscribers, after a drop of 1.14 million subscribers. MTNL was seventh, with 3.61 million subscribers.

The report, which also provides mobile subscriber numbers for individual circles, showed that UP (East) circle remained at the top with total 83.62 million subscribers, while Maharashtra remained at second position with a total of 79.48 million mobile subscribers. Madhya Pradesh added the most subscribers in the period, with 0.90 million.

Talking about the increase in the subscriber base, Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI, said, "Our vision and aim is to bring mobile connectivity to every corner of the country, so it is encouraging to see more cities mounting a sizeable mobile customer base. This will help accelerate our journey towards a fully connected and empowered Digital India."