Date:25/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/05/25/stories/2007052500800400.htm

Back Wireless segment growth takes tele-density to 18.7%

Our Bureau

Broadband, fixed line see sluggish growth

New Delhi May 24 Falling tariffs and expanding network has enabled telephone subscriber base in the country to reach 212.02 million at the end of April 2007 compared to 206.83 million in March 2007. With this, the overall tele-density has increased to 18.74 per cent in April 2007 as compared to 18.31 per cent in March 2007.

Wireless segment

The growth has been largely due to the wireless segment, where 5.15 million subscribers have been added in April compared to 3.53 million subscribers in March.

The total wireless subscriber (GSM, CDMA & WLL (F)) base is 171.20 million now. Bharti is the leading operator with more than 40 million mobile subscribers.

Fixed lines

With cellular phones becoming the popular mode of communication, the wireline subscriber base has stagnated with an increased of just 0.04 million lines in April to reach 40.82 million. State-owned BSNL continues to own the majority of fixed line telephones in the country. Analysts said that fixed line telephony could make a strong come back with operators rolling out technologies such as IPTV and high-speed broadband in a big way.

Broadband

Broadband connections had reached 2.43 million subscribers by the end of April. Only 0.13 million connections have been added during April compared to 0.09 million in March, registering a growth of 5.65 per cent.

Under Bharat Nirman Programme, out of the 66,822 villages, so far 47,747 villages have been provided with Village Public Telephones (VPTs). The remaining 19,075 villages are to be covered by November, this year.