Telecom user base surges in May to 960.90 million

India's total number of telephone subscribers surged to 960.90 million as of May-end, a 0.84 per cent rise from the 952.91 million a month ago, while the total mobile user base rose to 929.37 million.

The total wireless subscriber base grew 0.91 per cent, adding over 8 million users, to the base of 921.02 million in April 2012. The overall teledensity, or telephones per 100 population, in the country reached 79.28 per cent during the reporting month, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

As on end May, private operators hold 88.89 per cent of the wireless market share where as the two state-owned firms - Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (MTNL) – hold just 11.11 per cent market share.

BSNL witnessed erosion of 81,809 subscribers, while MTNL saw 171,951 users leaving its network.

Among the service providers, Bharti Airtel topped the charts with an addition of 2 million new subscribers, taking its total user base to 185.3 million. Aditya Birla group firm Idea Cellular, was in second position with an addition of 1.75 million new users and a total of 115.97 million users.

In spite of cancellation of licences, Norwegian operator Telenor's Indian venture Uninor managed to secure the third position by adding more than 1.52 million users, while Vodafone India came in fourth with an addition of 1.2 million users.

The total broadband subscriber base has rose to 14.31 million at the end of May 2012, a 2.60 per cent growth from 13.95 million as of end of April 2012.

The yearly growth in broadband subscribers stood at 18.06 per cent during the last one year (June 2011 to May 2012).

As on 31 May 2012, there were 156 internet service providers (ISPs) providing broadband services in the country.

The top five ISPs in terms of market share were BSNL with a user base of 9.12 million, Bharti Airtel (1.37 million), MTNL (1.06 million), You Broadband (0.60 million) and Hathway (0.36 million).