The performance of wireless service providers has improved in respect of all the quality of service (QoS) parameters such as call set-up Success Rate (within licensee`s own network), Call Drop Rate, connection with good voice quality, metering and billing credibility etc, according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for the quarter ending December 2011, released on Friday.

The report says that the number of telephone subscribers in India has increased from nearly 907 million at the end of Sep-11 to 926.5 million at the end of Dec 11 registering a growth of 2.16% over the previous quarter as against 2.36% during the QE Sep 11. This reflects year-on-year (Y-O-Y) growth of 17.69% over the same quarter last year. The overall tele density in India reached 76.86 as on 31st December 2011.

The Report provides a broad perspective of the Telecom Services and presents the key parameters and growth trends for the Telecom Services as well as Cable TV, DTH & Radio Broadcasting services in India for the period covering October to December 2011. The report has been compiled on the basis of information furnished by the Service Providers.

The report says that Subscription in Urban Areas grew from 601.72 million at the end of Sep 11 to 611.19 million at the end of Dec 11, taking the Urban Teledensity from 166.01 to 167.85. Rural subscription increased from 305.51 million to 315.33 million, and the Rural Teledensity increased from 36.40 to 37.48. Share of Rural areas in total subscription has increased from 33.69% at the end of Sep 11 to 34.03% at the end of Dec 11.

About 49.87% of the total net additions have been in Urban areas as compared to 64.37% in the previous quarter. Rural subscription growth rate increased from 2.50% in QE Sep 11 to 3.22% in QE Dec 11, and Urban subscription growth rate declined from 2.29% in QE Sep 11 to 1.63% in QE Dec 11.             

With 20.23 million net additions during the quarter, total wireless (GSM + CDMA) subscriber base registered a growth of 2.32% over the previous quarter and  increased from 873.61 million at the end of Sep 11 to 893.84 million at the end of Dec 11.

Wireline subscriber base further declined from 33.31 million at the end of Sep 11 to 32.69 million at the end of Dec 11.

Internet subscribers increased from 20.99 million at the end of Sep 11 to 22.39 million at the end of Dec 11, registering a quarterly growth rate of 6.66%. Top 10 ISPs together hold 95.04% of the total Internet subscriber base.

Number of Broadband subscribers increased from 12.83 million at the end of Sep 11 to 13.35 million at the end of Dec 11, registering a quarterly growth of 4.03% and Y-O-Y growth of 21.49%.

Share of Broadband subscription in total Internet subscription decreased from 61.1% at the end of Sep 11 to 59.6% at the end of Dec 11. 85.12% of the Broadband subscribers are using Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology.

Gross Revenue (GR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of Telecom Service Sector for the QE Dec 11 has been `49,365.18 Crore and `34,081.35 Crore respectively.

Access services contributed 76.37% of the total revenue of telecom services. In Access services GR, AGR, License Fee & spectrum Charges increased by 3.35%, 4.09%, 4.20% & 6.13% respectively in the quarter ending Dec 11 vis-a-vis previous quarter.

Th