Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Jio Infocomm has overtaken Vodafone Idea in terms of both the number of mobile phone subscribers and quarterly revenue – in India.
Vodafone Idea has become the second largest mobile service provider, while Sunil Mittal-promoted Airtel has moved to the third position. State-owned BSNL is the fourth largest telecom operator in the country.
Reliance Jio’s mobile phone subscriber base – on its all-India 4G network — grew to 331.3 million in the quarter ended June, the company reported last week. Reliance Jio started its 4G network in September 2016 and its Capex spend reached around $36 billion.
Vodafone Idea, which on Friday said its mobile phone users on its 2G, 3G and 4G networks — fell to 320 million in June quarter from 334.1 million in the previous quarter. Vodafone Idea is shedding its less-ARPU customers as part of the strategy to focus on high-ARPU users and profitable telecom circles.
Airtel India is likely to continue to dominate the India telecom market in terms of quarterly revenue. Airtel India will be announcing its financial result for the June quarter next week.
Airtel India reported revenue of Rs 15,241 crore during the fourth quarter of financial year 2018-19. But Airtel India’s revenue came from its mobile phone services, enterprises and digital TV.
Vodafone Idea’s revenue was Rs 11,269.9 crore, registering 4.3 percent quarter on quarter drop as compared to Rs 11,775 crore in Q4 of fiscal 2018-19. Vodafone Idea said revenue in the June quarter was impacted by the churn of customers who had recharged on service validity plans in Q4 fiscal 2018-19.
Reliance Jio reported 5.2 percent quarter on quarter growth in revenue to Rs 11,679 crore in the June quarter.
Baburajan K