Wireless subscriber base up 15mn in August

The number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 494.07mn at the end of August 2009 from 479.07mn in July 2009, thereby registering a growth rate of 3.13%. With this, the overall tele-density in India reaches 42.27 Wireless Segment. Wireless subscriber base increased from 441.66mn in July 2009 to 456.74mn at the end of August 2009 at a monthly growth rate of 3.4%. Wireless Tele-density stands at 39.08. Wireline subscriber base declined from 37.41mn in July 2009 to 37.33mn at the end of August 2009. BSNL and MTNL, the PSU operators, own 85.8% of the wireline market share. While major private wireline service providers have increased their subscriber base, BSNL-MTNL lost 0.14mn subscribers in the month. Wireline tele-density is 3.19. Total broadband subscriber base increased from 6.8mn in July 2009 to 6.98mn in August 2009.