India adds 7.3 crore internet subscribers, 7.8 crore broadband users in 1 year

India added 7.3 crore internet subscribers and 7.8 crore broadband subscribers in one year as the number of telephone subscribers reached 119.9 crore in the country, the Centre informed on Tuesday.

Total number of internet subscribers increased from 88.1 crore at the end of March 2023 to 95.4 crore at the end of March this year, with an yearly 8.3 per cent growth.

Broadband services also maintained their upward trajectory, with the number of broadband subscribers increasing from 84.6 crore in March 2023 to 92.4 crore in March 2024, according to latest data by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

“This robust growth rate of 9.15 per cent with a massive addition of 7.8 crore Broadband subscribers underscores the importance of high-speed connectivity,” said the telecom regulatory body.

The adjusted gross revenue (AGR) also increased from Rs 2,49,908 crore in the year 2022-23 to Rs 2,70,504 crore in the year 2023-24 with yearly rate of growth of 8.24 per cent.

The overall tele-density in India increased from 84.51 per cent at the end of March 2023 to 85.69 per cent in March this year, at an yearly rate of growth of 1.39 per cent.

Number of wireless data subscribers has increased from 84.6 crore at the end of March 2023 to 91.3 crore at the end of March 2024 with yearly rate of growth of 7.93 per cent.

“Further, total volume of wireless data usage increased from 1,60,054 PB (petabyte) during the year 2022-23 to 1,94,774 PB during the year 2023-24 with yearly growth of 21.69 per cent,” the TRAI data showed.

The telephone subscribers in India increased from 117.2 crore at the end of March last year to 119.9 crore, registering a yearly rate of growth of 2.3 per cent.

“Average minutes of usage (MOUs) per subscriber per month increased from 919 during the year 2022-23 to 963 in 2023-24 with yearly rate of growth of 4.73 per cent,” according to the data.