Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released latest telecom subscription data for the month of August 2020. As per the latest TRAI press release, state run telecom major – BSNL – continues to add more and more new mobile customers while Vodafone Idea (Vi) – the 3rd largest mobile operator in the country is witnessing a sharp decline in it’s market share.
As we can see from past TRAI telecom subscription data, customer base and market share of Vi is continuously decreasing from April 2019. Vodafone Idea was the largest mobile operator in April 2019 with market share of 33.83% which is now reduced to 26.15% in August 2020. In terms of total customer base, Vodafone Idea is now at 3rd position behind Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
Total Telephone Subscribers in India
The number of telephone subscribers in
India increased from 1,164 million at the
end of July-20 to 1,167.81 million at the
end of August-20, thereby showing a
monthly growth rate of 0.33%. The overall Tele-density in India
increased from 86.03 at the end of
July-20 to 86.23 at the end of August20. The Urban Tele-density increased
from 137.47 at the end of July-20 to
138.17 at the end of August-20.
India increased from 1,164 million at the
end of July-20 to 1,167.81 million at the
end of August-20, thereby showing a
monthly growth rate of 0.33%. The overall Tele-density in India
increased from 86.03 at the end of
July-20 to 86.23 at the end of August20. The Urban Tele-density increased
from 137.47 at the end of July-20 to
138.17 at the end of August-20.
Wireless Subscribers
Total wireless subscribers (2G, 3G & 4G) increased
from 1,144.18 million at the end of July20 to 1,147.92 million at the end of
August-20, thereby registering a
monthly growth rate of 0.33%. Wireless
subscription in urban areas increased
from 620.68 million at the end of July20 to 624.93 million at the end of
August-20 however, wireless
subscription in rural areas decreased
from 523.50 million to 522.99 during
the same period.
from 1,144.18 million at the end of July20 to 1,147.92 million at the end of
August-20, thereby registering a
monthly growth rate of 0.33%. Wireless
subscription in urban areas increased
from 620.68 million at the end of July20 to 624.93 million at the end of
August-20 however, wireless
subscription in rural areas decreased
from 523.50 million to 522.99 during
the same period.
As on 31st August, 2020, the private access service providers held 89.35%
market share of the wireless subscribers whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two
PSU access service providers, had a market share of only 10.65%.
Net Additions/decline in Wireless Subscribers of Access Service
Providers in the month of August 2020
Providers in the month of August 2020
M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd has reported the wireless subscribers including the subscribers of M/s Tata Teleservices Ltd. Virtual Network Operator (VNO) of BSNL has started reporting of its subscribers from the month of October, 2018 and the same has been included in the subscriber base of BSNL.
Growth in Wireless Subscribers
All service areas showed growth except Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, U.P.
(E), and Jammu & Kashmir in their wireless subscribers during the month of
August-20. Kolkata and Himachal Pradesh service area showed maximum
growth of 1.13% in its wireless subscriber base during the month.
(E), and Jammu & Kashmir in their wireless subscribers during the month of
August-20. Kolkata and Himachal Pradesh service area showed maximum
growth of 1.13% in its wireless subscriber base during the month.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Statistics
During the month of August-20, a
total of 7.53 million requests were
received for MNP. The cumulative MNP
requests increased from 504.57
million at the end of July-20 to 512.10 million at the end of
August-20, since the
implementation of MNP. Out of total 7.53
million new requests, 4.07 million
requests received from Zone-I and
3.46 million requests received from
Zone-II.
total of 7.53 million requests were
received for MNP. The cumulative MNP
requests increased from 504.57
million at the end of July-20 to 512.10 million at the end of
August-20, since the
implementation of MNP. Out of total 7.53
million new requests, 4.07 million
requests received from Zone-I and
3.46 million requests received from
Zone-II.
Wireline Subscribers
Wireline subscribers increased
from 19.82 million at the end of
July-20 to 19.89 million at the end
of August-20. Net addition in the
wireline subscriber base was 0.07
million with a monthly growth rate
of 0.34%. The share of urban and
rural subscribers in total wireline subscribers were 89.83% and
10.17% respectively at the end of
August-20. The Overall Wireline Tele-density
increased from 1.46 at the end of
July-20 to 1.47 at the end of
August-20.
from 19.82 million at the end of
July-20 to 19.89 million at the end
of August-20. Net addition in the
wireline subscriber base was 0.07
million with a monthly growth rate
of 0.34%. The share of urban and
rural subscribers in total wireline subscribers were 89.83% and
10.17% respectively at the end of
August-20. The Overall Wireline Tele-density
increased from 1.46 at the end of
July-20 to 1.47 at the end of
August-20.
Access Service Provider-wise Net Additions in Wireline Subscribers
during the month of August, 2020
during the month of August, 2020
Broadband (Wired + Wireless) Statistics
The number of
broadband subscribers increased
from 705.40 million at the end of
July-20 to 716.19 million at the
end of August-20 with a monthly
growth rate of 1.53%.
broadband subscribers increased
from 705.40 million at the end of
July-20 to 716.19 million at the
end of August-20 with a monthly
growth rate of 1.53%.
The top
five Wired Broadband Service
providers As on 31st August, 2020 were :-
five Wired Broadband Service
providers As on 31st August, 2020 were :-
- BSNL (7.85 million)
- Bharti Airtel (2.53 million)
- Atria
14
Convergence Technologies (1.70
million) - Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd
(1.25 million) - Hathway Cable
& Datacom (1.03 million)
The top
five Wireless Broadband Service
providers As on 31st August, 2020 were :-
five Wireless Broadband Service
providers As on 31st August, 2020 were :-
- Reliance Jio
Infocom Ltd (402.67 million) - Bharti Airtel (156.45 million)
- Vodafone Idea (119.91 million)
- BSNL (15.90 million)
- Tikona
Infinet Ltd. (0.31 million)
BSNL is the only telecom service provider in the courtly which is operating without 4G in the highly competitive Indian telecom market. The PSU is trying their level best to improve their services through various customer friendly initiatives. The Voice Call quality is the best for BSNL Mobile Network as per TRAI My Call Analytics report. However, without 4G the PSU is not in a position to cater the ever increasing customer demand for high speed mobile data.
Even though BSNL’s Landline customer base is eroding day by day, BSNL is able to add millions of new Bharat Fiber (FTTH) connections even during this pandemic period. BSNL’s FTTH (Bharat Fiber) customer base in increasing exponentially all over India during this pandemic period as most of the educational institutions started online classes for their students. Software / BPO companies are also following Work From Home for their employees which they considered to be the most effective in the current situation. BSNL FTTH or BSNL Fibernet connections are considered to be of the supreme quality and stability as compared to all other FTTH operators in India. Hence more and more existing FTTH customers started migrating their connection to BSNL FTTH via Local Cable Operators (LCOs/TIPs/MSOs).
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