Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea see rise in fixed-line subscribers in February

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea witnessed a rise in fixed-line subscribers at a time when the overall wireline users in the country continued to decline in February, according to data published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

“Wireline subscribers further declined from 21.79 million at the end of January to 21.72 million at the end of February,” the report said. Net decline in the wireline subscriber base was 0.07 million with a monthly decline rate of 0.36 per cent.

The share of urban as well as rural subscribers in total wireline subscribers was 85.95 per cent and 14.05 per cent, respectively, at the end of February 2019. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd held 66.77 per cent of the fixed-line market, while Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea held 18.95 per cent and 1.41 per cent share, respectively, as on February 28.