Nation’s phone subscriber base rises to 100.69 cr

The total telephone subscriber base in the country rose marginally to reach 100.69 <g data-gr-id="33">crore</g> at the end of June, sectoral regulator TRAI said on Tuesday. The subscriber base stood at 100.20 <g data-gr-id="32">crore</g> at the end of May, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said. The wireless base (GSM and CDMA) rose 0.51 <g data-gr-id="20">per cent</g> to 98.08 <g data-gr-id="28">crore</g> at the end of June from 97.57 <g data-gr-id="29">crore</g> in May, while the fixed line base declined to 2.61 <g data-gr-id="30">crore</g> from 2.62 <g data-gr-id="31">crore</g>.

"As on June 30, 2015, the private access service providers held 91.75 <g data-gr-id="15">per cent</g> market share of the wireless subscribers whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSUs access service providers, held only 8.25 <g data-gr-id="16">per cent</g> market share," TRAI said.

The wireless <g data-gr-id="17">tele-density</g> increased to 77.90 <g data-gr-id="18">per cent</g> from 77.58 at the end of May. Wireless subscription in urban areas increased to 56.29 <g data-gr-id="22">crore</g> at the end of June from 55.88 <g data-gr-id="23">crore</g> last month and wireless subscription in rural areas increased from 41.69 <g data-gr-id="24">crore</g> to 41.78 <g data-gr-id="25">crore</g> during the 

same period. 

West Bengal service area recorded the highest growth rate in wireless subscribers during the reported period whereas UP (E), J&K and Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) service areas showed decline in subscriber base during the month. In June, a total of 36.8 lakh subscribers submitted their requests for mobile number portability (MNP).