India’s second largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel has lost 1.2 million active subscribers in October, which is the highest in the last 17 months, according to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Out of the total 378.13 million subscribers, the company’s active subscribers at the end of October were at 374.96 million, a loss of 1.2 million from the previous month, Trai data showed.
One of the reasons for this can be the loss of active users at the lower end of subscriber base for the company to market leader Jio, based on an increase in demand for JioBharat 4G phone, according to analysts.Besides, an increase in entry-level tariffs by Airtel last year could have also led to churn in active users, analysts said.In fact, Jio was the only operator to have added active subscribers in October. The Reliance Industries-owned company added 1.8 million active subscribers, thereby taking its active subscriber base to 422.1 million, according to Trai data.
In October, BSNL lost active subscribers for the 19th straight month. The state-owned telecom operator lost 488,403 active subscribers, taking its base to 49.4 million, according to Trai data.
Overall, the active subscriber base fell by1.43 millionin October. Of the total 1.15 billion subscribers, 1.045 billion, or 90.8% were active, according to the peak visitor location register, which shows the number of active users, including those roaming on a mobile operator’s network.
The overall mobile subscriber base of the country rose marginally by 831,467 users to 1.15 billion as of October-end. Jio continues to lead subscriber additions, and added 3.16 million subscribers. On the other hand, Airtel added only 352,640 users, its lowest additions in six months.
Vodafone Idea continues to lose subscribers for 31 months. In October, the company lost over 2 million subscribers, taking its total base to 225.49 million. Subscriber base of Jio and Airtel at the end of October was at 452.37 million and 378.13 million, respectively.
On the other hand, BSNL lost 636,830 subscribers in October, in the absence of 4G services and competition from private operators. The company lost subscribers for the 22nd consecutive month, taking its base to 92.87 million at the end of October.
Trai data suggests that Airtel’s market share was flat at 32.85% in October and Jio’s share rose to 39.30% from 39.06% in September. Vodafone Idea’s market share was at 19.59%, down from 19.78% in the previous month. BSNL’s market share fell to 8.08%.
With regard to 4G subscribers, Airtel’s additions at 520,000 were the lowest in the last 17 months. The company’s 4G subscribers at the end of October were at 251.09 million. Since Jio’s network is completely on 4G from the start, its 4G subscriber addition is the same as that of total additions.
Vodafone Idea lost 830,000 4G subscribers, taking its 4G base to 125.67 million. Overall, the three telecom operators net added 2.8 million 4G subscribers, lowest in the last seven months, Trai data showed. As of October end, a total of 849.97 million 4G subscribers were there in the country.
In the wireline segment, Jio’s subscriber base rose to over 10.6 million, with addition of 218,722 subscribers during October. Airtel added 146,741 subscribers, taking its wireline base to 8.07 million. BSNL’s subscriber base in the segment was at 6.21 million, with a loss of 40,926 users during October.
