New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) India recorded a 2.63 percent growth in the number of new telecom subscribers, adding 12.03 million new connections in June, official data released Thursday said.
With this, the total tally has reached 464.82 million, compared to 452.91 million a month before.

The overall tele-density has reached 39.86 percent, said sector regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a statement.

Wireless subscriber base (GSM and CMDA) increased from 415.25 million in May to 427.28 million, registering a growth of 2.9 percent, TRAI said. Wireless tele-density stands at 36.64 percent.

The wireline subscriber base declined from 37.66 million in May to 37.5 million at the end of June.

State-run telecom operators, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), which have about 86.2 percent market share in the wireline segment, lost 190,000 users in June. While BSNL lost over 180,000 subscribers, MTNL lost nearly 9,000.

“The lower growth rate in the metros and the higher growth rate in the circle ‘C’ areas reflects the service penetration levels,” TRAI said.

“Subscription levels are currently witnessing higher growth rates in the so far under-served ‘C’ category circles.”

The total broadband subscriber base increased to 6.62 million from 6.4 million, thereby showing a growth rate of 3.4 percent.