BENGALURU: India witnessed 1.74 percent growth in broadband internet customers in the month of April 2018 (Apr-18, month under review) according Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data for the month ended 30 April 2018. Hence, 71.90 lakh (7.19 million, 0.719 crore) broadband subscribers were added in Apr-18.

The smallest segment among broadband internet services providers – the Fixed wireless- WiFi, Wi Max, Point to Point, Radio, Vsat segment, lost about 40,000 subscribers – the segment’s subscriber base fell from 4.6 lakh (0.46 million or 0.046 crore) to 4.2 lakh (0.42 million or 0.042 crore) during the month. The wired broadband internet subscriber base grew by 20,000 to 179.70 lakh (17.97 million, 1.797 crore) in Apr-18 from 179.50 lakh (17.95 million, 1.795 crore) in the previous month.

A major portion-100.42 percent (72.20 lakh or 7.22 million or 0.722 crore) of the new users opted for wireless broadband internet through mobile devices and dongles in Apr-18. The mobile devices and dongles segment grew 1.83 percent in the month. It may be noted that TRAI considers download speeds equal to or in excess of 512 kbps as broadband internet. Also, TRAI subscriber numbers data is published in millions with 2 decimal places, hence the accuracy of this report is limited to the nearest 10,000 (Ten Thousand).

As on 30 April 2018, the top five Wireless Broadband Service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd with 1,961.9 lakh (196.19 million, 19.619 crore), Bharti Airtel  or Airtel with 875.1 lakh (87.51 million, 8.751 crore), Vodafone with 599 lakh (59.9 million, 5.99 crore), Idea Cellular with 424 lakh (42.4 million, 4.24 crore) and BSNLwith 115.1 lakh (11.51 million, 1.151 crore) subscribers respectively.

Wireless Internet

Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) showed the largest growth in terms of absolute numbers across all segments. Jio’s subscribers have grown by 17.32 percent in calendar year 2018 (CY 2018) since 31 December 2017 (or 1 January 2018, Dec-17). Its subscriber base has grown from 1,600.9 lakh (160.09 million, 16.009 crore) as on 1 January 2017 to 1,961.9 lakh (196.19 million or 19.619 crore) on 30 April 2018. Jio grew by 95.59 lakh (9.559 million, 0.9559 crore) in April 2018. At present, Jio provides only wireless broadband internet services through mobile devices including phones and dongles. The highest growth rate in CY 2018 until April 2018 was by Idea Cellular at 21.80 percent. Idea Cellular also led subscriber growth in Apr-18 with respect to Mar-18 with 6.45 percent growth.  BSNL has being losing subscribers on a regular basis. Please refer to the figure below.

Wired Internet

Growth of the wired internet subscribers until Apr-18 was led by Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited (Hathway). The company added about 60,000 (grew by 8.22 percent) subscribers in CY 2018 until Apr-18 and its subscriber base grew to 7.9 lakh (0.79 million, 0.079 crore) in Apr-18 from 7.3 lakh (0.73 million, 0.073 crore) at the beginning of CY 2018. Hathway subs base grew by 1.28 percent (added 10,000 subscribers) in Apr- from 7.8 lakh (0.78 million, 0.078 crore) in Mar-18.

In Apr-18, the top five Wired Broadband Service providers were BSNL with 92.4 lakh (9.24 million, 0.924 crore), Bharti Airtel with 21.9 lakh (2.19 million, 0.219 crore), Atria Convergence Technologies or ACT with 13.1 lakh (1.31 million, 0.131 crore), MTNL 8.6 lakh (0.86 million, 0.086 crore and Hathway with 7.9 lakh (0.79 million, 0.079 crore) subscribers respectively. The government’s BSNL and MTNL have in general being losing subscribers. Please refer to the figure below.

All Internet

Top five service providers constituted 97.42 percent market share in Apr-18 as compared to 95.23 percent market share in Mar-18 of the total broadband subscribers at the end of Apr-18. These service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd with 1961.9 lakh (196.19 million, 19.619 crore), Bharti Airtel with 897 lakh (89.70 million, 8.970 crore), Vodafone with 599.1 lakh (59.91 million, 5.991 crore), Idea Cellular with 424.1 lakh (42.41 million 4.241 crore) and BSNL with 207.5 lakh (20.75 million, 2.075 crire) subscribers respectively.