Vodafone Idea loses 42.8 lakh subs in June; Jio pips Airtel in subs addition: Trai

Reliance Jio has pipped Bharti Airtel for the second consecutive month by adding 54.7 lakh subscribers in June while the latter added 38.1 lakh subscribers, and Vodafone Idea shed off 42.8 lakh subscribers, for the second month in a row, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The total number of wireless subscribers increased from 1,1764.84 million at the end of May 2021 to 1,180.83 million at the end of June 2021, registering a monthly growth rate of 0.34%, the data showed.

Wireless subscriptions in urban areas increased from 641.48 million at the end of May 2021 to 646.29 million at the end of June 2021 in urban areas, as per the data. However, wireless subscriptions in rural areas decreased from 535.36 million to 534.54 million during the same period.

Consequently, the monthly growth rates of urban and rural wireless subscriptions were 0.75% and -0.15%, respectively.

The wireless tele-density in India increased from 86.25% at the end of May 2021 to 86.48% at the end of June 2021.

The urban wireless tele-density increased from 135.86% at the end of May 2021 to 136.67% at the end of June 2021 however, rural tele-density declined to 59.89% during the same period.

The share of urban and rural wireless subscribers in the total number of wireless subscribers was 54.73% and 45.27%, respectively, at the end of June 2021, the data showed.

As of June 30, 2021, the private access service providers held 89.95% market share of the wireless subscribers whereas Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), the two PSU access service providers, had a market share of only 10.05%.

In June, 12.27 million subscribers submitted their requests for Mobile Number Portability (MNP). With this, the total number of MNP requests increased from 593.61 million at the end of May 2021 to 605.88 million at the end of June 2021, since the implementation of MNP.

The number of active wireless subscribers (on the date of peak VLR) in June 2021 was 984.79 million. The data showed.