The number of telephone subscriptions in India touched 938 million at the end of September 2012, growing 3.4 % year on year, according to latest data released by India’s telecom regulator. 
The number declined 2.9 % over the previous quarter, dragging tele-density down to 77 as compared to 79.6 in the quarter ended June.
With over 906 million wireless subscribers (GSM+ CDMA), India is the second largest mobile network in the world after China. The number of wireless subscribers declined 2.9 % QoQ in the quarter ended September, but grew 3.78 % year on year.
Key points
- Internet subscribers increased from 22.66 million at the end of Jun-12 to 24.01 million at the end of Sep-12, registering a quarterly growth rate of 5.97%. Top 10 ISPs together hold 95% of the total Internet subscriber base.
- Number of Broadband* subscribers increased from 14.21 million at the end of Jun-12 to 14.68 million at the end of Sep-12, registering a quarterly growth of 3.31% and Y-O-Y growth of 14.42%.
- Share of Broadband subscription in total Internet subscription decreased from 62.74% at the end of Jun-12 to 61.16% at the end of Sep-12. 84.60% of the Broadband subscribers are using Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology.
- Monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for GSM service declined by 0.45%, from Rs 95.47 in QE Jun-12 to Rs 95.05 in QE Sep-12, with Y-O-Y decrease of 2.15%.
- Gross Revenue (GR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of Telecom Service Sector for the QE Sep-12 has been Rs 52937.32 Crore and Rs 35473.16 Crore respectively.
Key metrics
Telecom subscribers (Wireless + Wireline): 937.7 million
Teledensity: 77.04
Wireless subscribers: 906.62 million
Urban teledensity: 154.6
Rural Teledensity: 39.5
Wired subscribers: 31 million
Total Internet users (excluding wireless access): 24 million
Broadband subscribers: 14.68 million
Gross telecom revenue for the Quarter (Sep 2012): Rs 52937.3 cr
Monthly average revenue per user for GSM: Rs 95
Monthly ARPU for CDMA: Rs 78
Minutes of usage per month on GSM: 342 min
Minutes of usage on CDMA per month: 225 minutes
Recommended read
Broadband penetration grew 14% year on year in India
India Internet 2012- What world’s 3rd largest Internet population is like
2012 Recap : The Year Mobile Internet Surpassed Desktop Internet in India
* In India, speed above 256 Kbps is called broadband
