The Indian telecom industry has recorded a 3.48% sequential increase in its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) in the last quarter of 2024, driven by strong mobile subscriber additions, growth in wireless data usage, and tariff increases by private telecom operators. The telecom industry’s total AGR rose to Rs 77,934 crore in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, which boosted the Department of Telecommunications’ licence fee proceeds by 3.5% sequentially to Rs 6,234 crore. The Department of Telecommunications’ licence fee proceeds from the telecom sector increased by 3.5% sequentially to Rs 6,234 crore, according to data collated by the telecom regulator. A significant contributor to the growth was the strong addition of mobile subscribers by telcos, which drove the industry’s AGR growth. The three major private telecom operators – Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea – all posted sequential growth in their quarterly AGR. * BSNL’s AGR rose 14.81% to Rs 2,292.47 crore, driven by strong subscriber addition after private sector telcos raised tariffs in July last year. * Airtel’s quarterly AGR grew 5.85% sequentially to Rs 26,073.70 crore, while Jio’s rose 3.22% to Rs 28,542.76 crore. * Vi posted a 1.55% increase at Rs 7,958.46 crore. The government’s decision to exempt airwaves acquired from the first 5G spectrum auction onwards from the spectrum usage charge also played a significant role in the industry’s growth. The telecom sector’s sectoral minutes of consumption increased, with the all-India average minutes of usage per subscriber per month from wireless services rising 3.62% on-quarter to 1,009 minutes in the December quarter. The telecom regulator’s report also indicated that the monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) from wireless services increased 5.34% sequentially to Rs 181.80 in the October-December period. Access services contributed 84.35% to the total telecom services AGR in the December quarter. Despite the overall growth, the Indian internet user base decreased 0.14% sequentially to 970.16 million in the December quarter. The broadband internet user base increased 0.06% to 944.96 million, while narrow band subscriber numbers decreased 7.03% to 25.2 million. The telecom industry’s growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for mobile services and data usage, driven by the growing population and urbanization in the country. The industry’s focus on providing high-speed internet and data services has also helped to increase its revenue. The government’s efforts to promote digital adoption and 5G technology have also contributed to the industry’s growth. Overall, the telecom industry’s growth is a positive sign for the economy, and it is expected to continue growing in the coming years. Definitions:
*
The revenue generated by telcos from core telecom services and non-telecom sources. *
The provision of mobile and internet services to subscribers. *
The average revenue earned by a subscriber per month.
**Key Highlights:**
• The Indian telecom industry recorded a 3.48% sequential increase in its AGR in the last quarter of 2024. • The industry’s total AGR rose to Rs 77,934 crore in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31. • The Department of Telecommunications’ licence fee proceeds increased by 3.5% sequentially to Rs 6,234 crore. • The government exempted airwaves acquired from the first 5G spectrum auction onwards from the spectrum usage charge, contributing to the industry’s growth.
The Indian telecom industry’s growth is a positive sign for the economy, and it is expected to continue growing in the coming years. The telecom industry’s growth can also be seen in its sectoral minutes of consumption, which increased, with the all-India average minutes of usage per subscriber per month from wireless services rising 3.62% on-quarter to 1,009 minutes in the December quarter.
“The telecom industry’s growth is a positive sign for the economy, and it is expected to continue growing in the coming years,” said a senior official from the Department of Telecommunications. “The industry’s focus on providing high-speed internet and data services has helped to increase its revenue, and the government’s efforts to promote digital adoption and 5G technology have contributed to the industry’s growth.”
The telecom industry’s growth is driven by the increasing demand for mobile services and data usage, driven by the growing population and urbanization in the country. The telecom industry’s growth is expected to continue in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for mobile services and data usage.
