TRAI chief allays concerns on dip in mobile user base; rules out intervention

The recent drop seen in the mobile subscriber base is not a cause of worry nor does it call for the regulator’s intervention as the fluctuation is on account of multiple factors like minimum recharge plans and will correct in due course, TRAI Chairman R S Sharma said.

India’s total wireless subscriber base fell to 1,161.8 million on March 31, 2019, shedding 21.87 million users over the previous month, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently. The overall tele-density in India declined to 90.11 at the end of March from 91.86 in February.

Sharma, however, sought to allay any concern on the headline subscriber numbers.

“These are fluctuations which happen due to multiple factors, like telecom operators have started monthly minimal recharge to keep the connections live…that could have led to inactive connections getting removed. These are minor variations which I don’t think are major fluctuations, and I don’t think it is a cause for worry,” Sharma told PTI.