The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its subscription data for October 2024, revealing a decline of 33 lakh active subscribers across the country.

The total number of telephone subscribers, including wireless and wireline, stood at 1,188.20 million as of October 31, 2024, reflecting a monthly decline rate of 0.21 per cent.

Urban and rural subscribers experienced reductions, with urban subscriptions decreasing to 660.42 million and rural subscriptions falling to 527.79 million.

The broadband segment also saw a marginal decline, with total subscribers decreasing from 944.40 million in September 2024 to 941.47 million in Oct 2024, registering a decline rate of 0.31 per cent.

Wired broadband, however, showed growth, rising from 43.63 million to 44.66 million subscribers, an increase of 2.37 per cent. Conversely, fixed wireless connections such as Wi-Fi and Wi-Max dropped significantly by 22.72 per cent, while mobile device users fell by 0.42 per cent to 896.05 million.

Reliance Jio continued to lead in both wired and wireless broadband markets. Among wired broadband providers, Jio had 14.79 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel with 8.91 million.

In wireless broadband, Jio held a dominant 460 million subscribers, followed by Airtel with 278.76 million and Vodafone Idea with 125.43 mn.

A total of 13.45 million requests for mobile number portability were recorded in October, bringing cumulative MNP requests to 1,052.56 million since its implementation.

New rule mandates telcos to issue recharge voucher for only voice, SMS

Telecom regulator Trai on Monday amended tariff rules to mandate mobile service providers to issue a separate plan for voice calls and SMS for customers not using data.

The regulator removed the cap of 90 days on special recharge coupons and extended it to up to 365 days. 

"...the service provider shall offer at least one Special Tariff Voucher exclusively for Voice and SMS with validity period not exceeding three hundred and sixty-five days," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said in the Telecom Consumers Protection (Twelfth Amendment) Regulations, 2024. 

The move will help consumers to pay for services which they generally use. During the consultation process, Trai came across various views, including several senior citizens, families having broadband at homes etc may not need recharge plans bundled with data for their mobile phones.