18.11.20

Mobile users shrunk by 1.7cr during lockdown

The number of wireless (mobile) subscribers in India shrank by 1.7 crore to 114 crore in April-June — when a national lockdown was in force — and was yet to reach the pre-April level even by August-end, despite additions reported in the two months after June.

The decline in the June quarter is largely because of a dip in urban subscribers; rural subscriptions actually increased. While urban users increased in July and August, rural subscriptions increased in July and dipped in August.

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the number of total wireless subscribers decreased to 114 crore in end-June from 115.7 crore (1,157.7 million) at the end of March.

The quarterly decline rate was 1.47%, and the net decline recorded during the quarter was 1.7 crore (17.04 million) subscribers. Wireless teledensity — number of connections per 100 people — in the country decreased to 84.38 at the end of June from 85.87 at end-March.

Over the next two months, the number of subscribers marginally increased to 114.4 crore (1,144.18 million) in July and further jumped to 114.7 crore (1,147.92 million) in August. However, the number is still not comparable with pre-April levels.

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