India's telephone subscriber base crosses 951 million

The total telephone subscriber base in the country grew by 2.68 percent to reach 951.34 million at the end of March, 2012, according to January-March quarterly data released by sectoral regulator TRAI on Wednesday.

The subscriber base stood at 926.53 million at the end of December 2011. The total wireless (GSM and CDMA both) subscriber base, grew 2.83 per cent during the quarter to reach 919.17 million at the end of March 2012 as compared to 893.84 million at the end of December 2011.

However, the wireline subscriber base continued to decline and at the end of March 2012. It stood at 32.17 million as compared to 32.69 million at the end of December 2011, bringing down teledensity to 2.66 from 2.71.

Subscription in urban areas grew from 611.19 million at the end of December 2011 to 620.52 million at the end of March 2012, taking urban teledensity from 167.85 to 169.55.

Rural subscription increased from 315.33 million to 330.82 million, and rural teledensity increased from 37.48 to 39.22. Internet subscriber base grew 2.10 per cent during the quarter to reach 22.86 million at the end of March 2012 from 22.39 million at the end of December 2011. The broadband user base reached 13.81 million from 13.35 million during the same period.

Gross revenue and adjusted gross revenue of telecom service sector for the quarter has been Rs. 49,242.99 crore and Rs. 34,457.07 crore respectively. Monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for GSM service increased by 1.66 percent to reach Rs. 97 at the end of March 2012 from Rs. 96 at the end of December 2011.

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