India’s telephone subscribers cross 951 mn

The total telephone subscriber base in the country grew by 2.68 per cent to reach 951.34 million at the end of March, 2012, according to January-March quarterly data released by sectoral regulator TRAI on Wednesday. The subscriber base stood at 926.53 million at the end of December 2011. The total wireless (GSM and CDMA both) subscriber base, grew 2.83 per cent during the quarter to reach 919.17 million at the end of March 2012 as compared to 893.84 million at the end of December 2011. However, the wire line subscriber base continued to decline and at the end of March 2012. It stood at 32.17 million as compared to 32.69 million at the end of December 2011, bringing down teledensity to 2.66 from 2.71. Subscription in urban areas grew from 611.19 million at the end of December 2011 to 620.52 million at the end of March 2012, taking urban teledensity from 167.85 to 169.55.