India’s mobile phone subscriber base swells 8.19 million in November to hit 917.33 million

Indian telecom service providers added 8.19 million new wireless subscribers in November 2011, taking the total number of wireless users in the country to 884.37 million. The country's overall wireless teledensity - number of telephone connections per 100 people – rose to 73.44 from 72.70 recorded in October.

Although the gross addition of wireless users in November has been 8.19 million, the net addition has been 2.97 million due to disconnection of 5.22 million existing wireless subscribers, according to data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

The share of urban subscriber marginally decreased to 65.73 per cent from 65.86 per cent, whereas share of rural subscribers marginally rose to 34.27 per cent from 34.14 per cent.

The total number of telephone users in India rose 0.30 per cent to 917.33 million during the reporting period from 914.59 million as of end-October 2011.

The share of urban users marginally declined to 66.11 per cent from 66.23 per cent, whereas that of rural subscribers rose marginally to 33.89 per cent (from 33.77 per cent) during the month, data showed.

With this, the country's overall teledensity rose to 76.18 in November from 76.03 in October.