Orissa records 10.5 % growth in telecom subscriber base in Apr-June

Orissa has achieved a growth of 10.5 per cent in new subscriber additions, both wireline and wireless, in the April-June quarter of 2010-11.

The Orissa circle is only next to Uttar Pradesh (east) circle which grew by 11.7 per cent, in terms of growth of telecom subscribers in the said period.

Orissa's telecom subscriber base moved up from 15.89 million by March to 17.55 million by the end of June this year. The pan-India subscriber base during the April-June period went up from 621.28 million to 671.69 million, thereby recording a growth of 8.1 per cent.

These figures are as per a performance indicator report prepared by the Telecom Regulatory of India Ltd (TRAI).

“The growth in the Orissa circle has been fuelled largely by affordable handsets and relevant tariff. There has also been a rise in distribution reach and product availability. Last but not the least, the expanding networ coverage is also fuelling the growth of the telecom sector in the circle”, said a senior official of Uninor.

The state's overall teledensity stood at 43.32 by the end of June this year compared to the national average of 56.83. However, the state's urban teledensity at 146.34 was higher than the national average of 128.20.

Taking into account only wireless subscribers, Orissa's growth in the first quarter of this fiscal stood at 10.95 per cent as its mobile subscriber base rose from 15.27 million to 16.94 million. The growth in new mobile subscribers in the Orissa circle was the second highest after Uttar Pradesh (east) circle which clocked a growth of 12.08 per cent.

On the whole, the country's mobile subscriber base grew from 584.32 million to 635.51 million, marking a growth of 8.76 per cent.

The landline subscriber base in the Orissa circle witnessed a negative growth of 1.77 per cent in the April-June period as the number of wireless subscribers fell from 0.61 million to 0.60 million. The country's wireline subscriber base dropped from 36.96 million to 36.18 million, showing a negative growth of 2.1 per cent.

Delhi and Mumbai were the only telecom circles that registered a positive growth of landline subscribers in this .