Internet usage from wireless devices reaches 143 million; India to touch 900 million mobile subscription soon

India has added 3 million subscribers during December 2012- March 2013, registering a growth of 0.28% over the previous quarter Dec-12. This reflects year-on-year negative growth of 5.61% over the same quarter of last year. The overall teledensity in India slightly declined from 73.34 as on 31st December, 2012 to 73.32 as on 31st March, 2013, according to a new report by TRAI.

While subscription in urban areas decreased from 556.96 million at the end of Dec-12 to 548.80 million at the end of Mar-13, rural subscription increased from 338.54 million to 349.22 million. Share of subscription in rural areas out of total subscription increased from 37.80% at the end of Dec-12 to 38.89% at the end of March-13.

Number of subscribers who accessed internet through wireless phone is 143.20 million in Mar-13. Internet subscribers (other than subscribers who accessed internet by wireless phones) increased from 21.57 million at the end of Dec-12 to 21.61 million at the end of Mar-13, registering a quarterly growth rate of 0.16%.

Number of Broadband subscribers (other than subscribers who accessed internet by wireless phones) increased from 14.98 million at the end of Dec-12 to 15.05 million at the end of Mar-13,

registering a quarterly growth of 0.45% and Y-O-Y growth of 8.98%. Number of Narrowband subscribers (other than subscribers who accessed internet by wireless phones) decreased from 6.59 million at the end of Dec-12 to 6.56 million at the end of Mar-13, registering a quarterly decrease of 0.5%.

Monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for GSM service increased by 6.99%, from `98 in quarter ending Dec-12 to 105 in quarter ending Mar-13, with Y-O-Y increase of 7.84%. Whereas monthly ARPU for CDMA – full mobility service increased by 19.13%, from 80 in quarter ending Dec-12 to 95 in quarter ending Mar-13. ARPU for CDMA has increased by 26.51% on Y-O-Y basis in this quarter.

Monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for Access Services based on AGR increased from 99 in quarter ending Dec-12 to 104 in quarter ending March-13.Meanwhile the report states that the total number of PCOs in the country at the end of March-2013 is 1.26 million as compared to 1.41 million at the end of Dec-12, showing a decline of 0.15 million PCOs.