COAI, the apex industry association representing the country’s major Telecom, Internet, Technology & Digital Services companies, released the latest mobile subscriber numbers, for the month ending, April 2018.
As per the data, India’s private telecom service providers have a total of 1.049 billion mobile subscribers. This includes subscriber figures of Aircel, RJio, MTNL and Telenor as of March 2018.
Amongst the individual companies, Bharti Airtel Ltd continues to hold the top position, with total mobile subscribers reaching 308.6 million adding another 4.50 million subscribers during April 2018. Airtel is followed by Vodafone India Ltd, which ended at 222.03 million subscribers. Idea Cellular had the maximum number of subscriber additions, adding 5.55 million to bring its total subscribers to 216.76 million.
The report, also provides mobile subscriber numbers for individual circles, showed that the UP (East) circle remained at the top with a total of 91.07 million subscribers, while Maharashtra remained at second position with a total of 84.26 million mobile subscribers.
Talking about the increase in the subscriber base, Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI, said, “We are glad to see the constant growth of the subscribers’ base and expansion of connectivity in the rural areas. With this increasing reach, people are also shifting to 4G technology. As the Draft National Digital Communications Policy 2018 proposes extending exemptions for the construction of telecom towers and provide accelerated Rights of Way permissions for telecom tower, the telecom connectivity will soon reach to the last person of the country. The growth seen in mobile subscribers this month is encouraging, and the industry is working daily to ensure that connectivity reaches the farthest corners of the country.”
Mobile connectivity and data services are imperative in the goal to bridge the digital divide in India. With these tools, we can move towards a truly equitable and democratic nation. The telecom industry, therefore, deserves an urgent and immediate intervention to encourage policy and regulatory stability, and facilitate growth, innovation and investment in the sector in view of the mounting financial debt and debilitating financial health of the industry.
The industry remains committed towards working for a fully connected and digitally empowered India and, furthering the Hon Prime Minister’s vision of building a Digital India to empower the country’s citizens with access to information via the Internet and crucial government services.
(Source: Monthly subscriber figures of AIRCEL, Telenor, RCoM, RJio, BSNL & MTNL are taken from TRAI subscription report)
