TRAI Data: Reliance Jio added over 8 million new customers in December

According to data published by telecom regulator TRAI, the number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,185.88 million at the end of November-17 to 1,190.67 million at the end of December-17, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.40 percent, while Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio added over 8 million new customers against 2.43 million by Idea Cellular and 1.5 million by Vodafone India last year in December.

Meanwhile, India largest telecom service provider Bharti Airtel add only 5.76 lakh and State-run BSNL added 4.21 lakh subscribers.

The data further said that total wireless subscribers (GSM, CDMA & LTE) increased from 1,162.47 million to 1,167.44 million during the same duration, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.43 percent.

The data by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) also pointed out that, as on 31st December 2017, the private access service providers held 90.45 percent market share of the wireless subscribers whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU access service providers, had a market share of only 9.55 percent.

As per the reports received from the service providers, the number of broadband subscribers increased from 350.70 million at the end of November-17 to 362.87 million at the end of December-17 with a monthly growth rate of 3.47 percent.

"Top five service providers constituted 93.8 percent market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of Dec-17. These service providers were Reliance Jio Infocom Ltd (160.09 million), Bharti Airtel (71.09 million), Vodafone (52.44 million), Idea Cellular (34.81 million) and BSNL (21.95 million)," the data said.

As on 31st December 2017, the top five wired broadband service providers were BSNL (9.38 million), Bharti Airtel (2.15 million), Atria Convergence Technologies (1.28 million), MTNL (0.91 million) and Hathway Cable & Datacom (0.73 million) and the top five wireless broadband service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (160.09 million), Bharti Airtel (68.94 million), Vodafone (52.43 million), Idea Cellular (34.80 million)and BSNL (12.57 million).

Mobile devices accounted for 344.57 subscribers in December.

The top-five wired broadband service providers in December were BSNL (9.38 million), Bharti Airtel (2.15 million), Atria Convergence Technologies (1.28 million), MTNL (0.91 million) and Hathway Cable & Datacom (0.73 million).

The overall teledensity in India increased to 91.90 at the end of December from 91.61 at the end of November 2017.