BSNL, TTSL Lose Subscribers In April: TRAI

The state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) saw its mobile customer base shrink during April 2012 as it lost about 700,000 wireless subscribers during the month, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). (See BSNL May Go For A Tariff Hike, IndiaWatch: BSNL May Lose Mini Ratna Status and IndiaWatch: BSNL Seeks Survival Funds.)

The number of BSNL's subscribers came down from 98.5 million at the end of March 2012 to 97.7 million at the end of April 2012. The cash strapped operator is upgrading its wireless network and will soon receive a refund for its BWA spectrum too. (See Should BSNL Return 3G Spectrum As Well?, BSNL's Fresh Approach For Growth and How to Get BSNL Back on Track.)

BSNL is not the only operator to take a hit in April. Tata Teleservices Ltd. lost around 500,000 subscribers while the other state-run operator, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) lost 100,000 subscribers in the month of April 2012.

Bharti Airtel Ltd. continued to lead with an addition of 2 million new subscribers as on April 2012, followed by Idea Cellular Ltd. and Uninor with 1.4 and 1.1 million subscriber additions respectively. (See Bharti Airtel: Role Model and Idea Sets Sight On 3G Uptake.)

The total wireless subscriber base in India is now a gigantic 921.02 million. Interestingly, rural India saw a monthly growth of 1.02 percent compared to a negative growth of 0.24 percent in urban India.

India's broadband subscription became 13.95 million in April with a marginal increase of 160,000 compared to March 2012. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) requests shot up to 4.01 million in April.

Rimit Singh, Correspondent, Light Reading India