Jammu & Kashmir lockdown hits telecom companies’ revenue for Q2

NEW DELHI: The communications lockdown in Kashmir has had a substantial negative impact on the subscriber base and revenue generation of telecom companies. Instituted a day before the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, the telecom service blockade has seen the percentage of active subscribers in the region fall from over 85 per cent in June to a paltry 42.51 per cent in September.

Wireless subscription data released by TRAI shows that the region also recorded a sharp dive in its overall mobile subscriber base during August and September, shedding a net 2.58 lakh users. The contraction in mobile user base during the last two months of the second quarter (Q2FY20) saw the region record a net decline of 1.15 lakh wireless subscribers during the period, compared to a net addition of 1.44 lakh mobile connections during the first quarter ended June 30, 2019.