July sees highest ever mobile user addition at 9.22 mn

India, the world's fastest-growing mobile services market, added a record 9.22 million wireless subscribers in July as against 8.94 million in June.     

The total user base now stands at 296.08 million in the country, said Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.     

However, wireline or fixed line connections fell by 0.16 million, pulling down the overall increase in telephone connections to 9.06 million in the month under review, according to data released by telecom regulator Trai.     

The prospect of 10-million mobile user addition is a good possibility, said a private player. 

The overall tele-density was 29.08 per cent in July 2008 as against 28.33 per cent in June.  
   
Though there has been an increase in the addition of wireless subscribers, fixed-line users continued to dwindle with the subscribers base declining to 38.76 million in July from 38.92 in June, 2008.     

The total number of telephone connections reached 334.84 million at the end of July 2008, as compared with 325.78 million in June 2008, the statement added.     

The total wireless subscribers [GSM, CDMA and WLL(F)], base stood at 296.08 million in July as against 286.86 in June, it noted.     

The broadband subscribers reached 4.57 million mark in July as compared with 4.38 million in June.     

Top mobile operator Bharti Airtel added about 2.67 million new customers. The company had 72.07 million mobile users at the end of July.     

Reliance Communications added about 1.74 million wireless users to have 52.53 million subscribers and Vodafone Essar added 1.75 million mobile customers in July, taking its total to 50.95 million.