TRAI 15.64 mn wireless subscribers added in Mar '09

 A record 15.64 million wireless subscribers were added in March and for the first time in two years wireline subscriber-base has increased marginally, indicating an overall growth for the telecom sector.     

The total wireless subscriber base (GSM, CDMA and WLL (Fixed)) stood at 391.76 million at the end of March 2009 with the addition of 15.64 million users, Telecom Regulatory Authority said in a statement today.     

The total number of telephone connections reached 429.72 million at the end of March with the tele-density (phones per 100 people) touching 36.98.   

Wireline subscriber-base increased to 37.96 million in March this year as against 37.73 million in February 2009, registering an increase of 0.23 million.   

The broadband subscriber-base has touched 6.22 million by the end of March 2009, adding 0.37 million new subscribers from the previous month, it said.