India adds 15 mn new wireless users in August

A record addition of 15 million wireless telephone users in August has catapulted the total subscriber base in the country to 494.07 million, closer to the government’s 2012 target.

Registering a record growth, 15.08 million new wireless subscribers (GSM, CDMA & FWP) were added in August, taking the user base to 456.74 million, Trai said in a statement.

However, the wireline subscription continues to decline as it reaches 37.33 million, it said, adding fixed line subscription declined by 0.09 million in the said month.

Meanwhile, with the robust addition of 10-15 million wireless subscribers a month, it seems the 500-million mark could be achieved this year.

The government has set a target to achieve 500 million subscribers by 2012.

Trai said the overall tele-density has reached 42.27. The number of telephone subscribers in India rose to 494.07 million at the end of August 2009 from 479.07 million in July 2009, a growth rate of 3.13, it said.

Wireless subscriber base increased from 441.66 million in July-2009 to 456.74 million at the end of August 2009 at a monthly growth rate of 3.42.

Wireline subscriber base declined from 37.41 million in July 2009 to 37.33 million at the end of August 2009.

BSNL/MTNL, the two PSU operators own 85.80 per cent of the market share. While major private wireline service providers have increased their subscriber base, BSNL/MTNL lost 0.14 million subscribers in the month of August, it said.

Total broadband subscriber base has increased from 6.80 million in July to 6.98 million in August, thereby showing growth of 2.65 per cent.