Context: 

Recently, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter July-September September 2024.

About the report:

• This Report provides a broad perspective of the Telecom Services in India and presents the key parameters and growth trends of the Telecom Services as well as Cable TV, DTH & Radio Broadcasting services in India for the period covering 1st July, 2024 to 30th September, 2024. 
• Report has been compiled mainly on the basis of information furnished by the Service Providers.

Key Highlights of the Report

Total number of Internet subscribers increased from 969.60 million to 971.50 million, registering a quarterly rate of growth of 0.20%.

• Wired Internet subscribers are 43.64 million and number of Wireless Internet subscribers is 927.86 million. 
• The Internet subscriber base is comprised of Broadband Internet subscriber base of 944.39 million and Narrowband Internet subscriber base of 27.11 million. 

Wireline Tele-density increased from 2.50% to 2.63% with a quarterly rate of growth of 4.96%.

• Wireline Tele-density is the number of telephone connections per hundred people in the wireline network.

Monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless service increased by 9.60%, from Rs.157.45 to Rs.172.57.

• On a year-on-year basis, monthly ARPU for wireless service increased by 15.31% in this quarter. 

Gross Revenue (GR), Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of the Telecom Service Sector have been Rs.91,426 Crore, Rs.88,236 crore and Rs.75,310 Crore respectively. 

The number of telephone subscribers in India decreased from 1,205.64 million to 1,190.66 million registering a rate of decline of 1.24% over the previous quarter. 

• The overall Tele-density in India decreased from 85.95% as in QE Jun-24 to 84.69% as in QE Sep-24. 
• Out of the total telephone subscription, the share of Rural subscription decreased from 44.67% at the end of Jun-24 to 44.39% at the end of Sep-24.

• A total of approximately 912 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking only/downlinking only/both uplinking& downlinking.

• The number of active subscribers for pay DTH (Direct-to-Home) service decreased from 62.17 million in June 2024 to 59.91 million in September 2024.

• The advertisement revenue reported by FM Radio operators in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels is Rs.423.52 crore as against Rs.428.45 crore in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels for the previous quarter. 

• As of 30th September 2024, 513 Community Radio stations are operational.

Snapshot of all the Data in the Report