Mobile number portability requests up by 2.47 mn in February: TRAI

Requests for mobile number portability (MNP) increased by 2.47 million in February last, data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said Wednesday.

The number of MNP requests increased from 111.94 million subscribers at the end of January last to 114.41 million at the end of February.

The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 922.04 million at the end of January, 2014 to 931.95 million at the end of February, 2014, thereby showing a monthly growth of 1.08 percent.

Subscription in the urban areas increased from 551.96 million in January, 2014 to 556.99 million at the end of February, 2014. Subscription in rural areas increased from 370.08 million to 374.96 million during the same period.

The monthly growth rate of urban and rural subscription was 0.91 percent and 1.32 percent, respectively. The overall urban tele-density increased from 145.39 to 146.47 and rural tele-density increased from 43.13 to 43.67 during this month.

Total wireless subscriber base increased from 893.31 million in January, 2014 to 903.36 million at the end of February, 2014, registering a monthly growth of 1.12 percent.

Wireline subscriber base declined from 28.72 million at the end of January, 2014 to 28.59 million at the end of February, 2014. Net reduction in wireline subscriber base was 0.13 million at a decline rate of 0.46 percent.

Total broadband subscription was 58 million at the end of February, 2014. Out of this, wired broadband subscription was 14.80 million and wireless broadband subscription was 43.20 million.