According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI),the number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,198.50 million at the end of May 2021 to 1,202.57 million at the end of June 2021, representing a monthly growth rate of 0.34%. Urban telephone subscription increased from 661.18 million at the end of May 2021 to 666.10 million at the end of June 2021, however, the rural subscription decreased from 537.32 million to 536.47 million during the same period. The monthly growth rates of urban and rural telephone subscription were 0.74% and -0.16% respectively during the month of June 21.
Overall tele-density in India increased from 87.84% at the end of May 2021 to 88.07% at the end of June 2021. While urban tele-density increased from 140.04% at the end of May 2021 to 140.86% at the end of June 2021, rural tele-density decreased from 60.22% to 60.10% during the same period. The share of urban and rural subscribers in total number of telephone subscribers at the end of June 2021 was 55.39% and 44.61% respectively. Of which, Delhi service area has maximum tele-density of 280.28% and the Bihar service area has minimum tele-density of 53.59% at the end of June 2021.
Wireless subscribers
Total wireless subscribers increased from 1,176.84 million at the end of May 2021 to 1,180.83 million at the end of June 2021, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.34%. Wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 641.48 million at the end of May 2021 to 646.29 million at the end of June 21. However, wireless subscription in rural areas decreased from 535.36 million to 534.54 million during the same period. Monthly growth rates of urban and rural wireless subscription were 0.75% and -0.15% respectively.
As on 30 June, 2021, private access service providers held 89.95% market share of the wireless subscribers, whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU access service providers, had a market share of only 10.05%.
Wireline subscribers
Wireline subscribers increased from 21.66 million at the end of May 2021 to 21.74 million at the end of June 21. Net increase in the wireline subscriber base was 0.07 million with a monthly growth rate of 0.33%. The share of urban and rural subscribers in total wireline subscribers were 91.11% and 8.89% respectively at the end of June 2021.
Broadband
Based on reports from 440 operators in the month of June 2021, the number of broadband subscribers increased from 780.27 million at the end of May 2021 to 792.78 million at the end of June 2021, with a monthly growth rate of 1.60%.
Top five service providers constituted 98.77% market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of June 2021. These service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (439.91 million), Bharti Airtel (197.10 million), Vodafone Idea (121.42 million), BSNL (22.69 million) and Atria Convergence (1.91 million).
