Telecom sector gross revenue up 0.8% in Sept quarter: TRAI

Earning in terms of licence fee dip 1.97% to Rs 2,884 cr

The telecom sector has recorded gross revenue at Rs 52,937.32 crore during the quarter ended September 2012, an increase of 0.80% over the previous quarter at Rs 52,512.10 crore, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), today.

Adjusted gross revenue declined by 0.07% to Rs 35,473.16 crore during the September quarter from Rs 35,499.01 crore reported during the quarter ended June 2012.

The government’s earning from the telecom sector in terms of licence fee also dipped 1.97% to Rs 2,884.16 crore during the July-September quarter, as against Rs 2,941.02 crore earned during the April-June quarter this fiscal year.

The Government also earned less spectrum charges during the September quarter at Rs 1,287.21 crore compared with Rs 1,292.06 crore reported during the quarter ending June 2012.

However, gross revenue has gone up by 6% during the July-September 2012 quarter compared to the same period last year. Adjusted gross revenue has also increased 6.01% if compared year-on-year basis. Government has earned 9.83% more revenue from spectrum fees and 3.91% more licence fee during the July-September 2012 quarter compared to July-September 2011 quarter.

However, operators gross revenue (excluding revenues of ILD, NLD and ISPs, VSAT) declined by 0.61% during the quarter ended September 2012 to Rs 39661.37 crore, while adjusted gross revenue (excluding revenues of ILD, NLD and ISPs, VSAT) slightly increased by 0.14% to Rs 27773.79 crore during the quarter under review, according to TRAI data.

The average revenue per user (ARPU) for GSM service dipped 0.45% to Rs 95.05 in July-September 2012 quarter from Rs 95.47 in April-June 2012 quarter. ARPU for CDMA service increased by 3.80% from Rs 74.91 in quarter ended June to Rs 77.76 during the quarter ended September 2012.