Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has shared its latest report on India telecom industry performance in the December 2014 quarter.
TRAI said the number of telephone subscribers – both wireless and wireline — in India increased 1.4 percent quarter on quarter and 6.09 percent to 970.97 million in December 2014. The overall tele-density in India increased from 76.75 in September 14 to 77.58 in December 14.
Telecom subscription in urban areas increased to 572.29 million in December 2014 from 569.56 million in September 2014. Urban teledensity declined from 148.07 to 148.06. Rural subscription increased to 398.68 million from 388.05 million, while rural teledensity increased from 44.96 to 46.09.
Out of total subscription, the share of the rural areas increased from 40.52 percent in September 2014 to 41.06 percent in December 2014.
Wireless operators such as Bharti Airtel, BSNL, etc. have added 13.77 million subscribers or 1.48 percent growth quarter on quarter and 6.51 percent year on year in Q4 2014 , growing subscriber base to 943.97 million in December 2014 from 930.20 million in September. Wireless teledensity increased to 75.43 in December 2014 from 74.55 in September.
Wireline subscriber fell 1.48 percent quarter on quarter and 6.56 percent year on year to 27 million in December 2014. Wireline teledensity declined from 2.20 in September 2014to 2.16 in December 2014, said TRAI.
Total number of Internet subscribers has increased 5.11 percent quarter on quarter to 267.39 million in December from 254.40 million in September 2014. Wired Internet subscribers are 18.86 million and wireless Internet subscribers are 248.53 million.
Number of broadband Internet subscribers increased 13.21 percent quarter on quarter to 85.74 million in December from 75.73 million in September. The number of Narrowband Internet subscribers has increased 1.67 percent from 178.67 million in September to 181.65 million in December.
Monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for GSM service increased 2.35 percent quarter on quarter and 5.80 percent year on year to Rs 118 in December quarter.
TRAI said prepaid ARPU for GSM service per month increased from Rs 101 Rs 103, while postpaid ARPU increased from Rs 459 to Rs 466. ARPU for CDMA service decreased 1.49 percent quarter on quarter and increased 4.8 percent year on year to Rs 109.
Gross revenue (GR) has increased 2.41 percent to Rs 63,955 crore, while adjusted gross revenue (AGR) of Indian telecom service sector grew 0.84 percent to Rs 43,591 crore as compared to previous quarter.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
