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PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1067666

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PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1067666

India - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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India's government bails out struggling operators with major telecom sector reform package

India's telecommunications sector has struggled for growth over the last five years. The sector's lacklustre performance has been in spite of concerted efforts by the government to bolster the underlying infrastructure in a bid to achieve universal coverage. Instead, the country's relatively liberal regulatory environment has encouraged fierce competition and price wars amongst the operators, driving down ARPU to the point where many are now more concerned about their mere survival rather than generating positive returns for their shareholders.

State-owned as well as private operators have been forced to seek redress from the government in order to avoid bankruptcy. One particular area of contention has been the billions owed by the operators to the government in the form of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues - usage and licensing fees charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) - that have been the subject of long-standing court battles over what should be counted as revenue.

The government won that battle in the Supreme Court in 2019, but the financial impairment of that decision has pushed a number of telcos - in particular Vodafone Idea - to the brink. Add the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 and 2021 to the mix, and the government had to come to the industry's rescue by introducing a major reform package in September 2021. Along with changes to the definition of AGR with regard to non-telecom revenue, the package includes a four-year moratorium on AGR dues and spectrum instalments.

Coincidentally, the government has also deferred the spectrum auctions for 5G until later in 2022. Mobile spectrum in India is already in short supply in terms of providing the necessary capacity to reach universal coverage, but the cash-strapped MNOs may not yet be in a sufficiently strong financial position for which to make the 5G spectrum auction viable.

This report includes the regulator's market data to September 2021, telcos' financial and operating data updates to December 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments.

Key Developments

  • The government releases a major telecom sector reform package, which includes a four-year moratorium on AGR dues and spectrum instalments.
  • 5G spectrum auctions are postponed from 2021 to 2022.
  • The target completion date for India's national broadband program BharatNet (originally scheduled for 2013) is pushed further out to 2025.
  • Jio develops a 100%-homegrown 5G solution for India, including radios integrated with its own 5G core network as well as Jio 5G smartphones.
  • BSNL announces plans to make 4G commercial services available in August 2022, following a cash injection from the government.
  • Bharti Airtel's shareholders approve a deal for Google to acquire 1.28% of the company in return for a $700 million equity investment.
  • Vodafone Group sells a 4.7% stake in tower provider Indus Towers to Bharti Airtel.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices, Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL), Reliance Jio, Quadrant.

Table of Contents

Key statistics

Regional Asia market comparison

  • Market characteristics
  • Market Leaders
  • Market Challengers
  • Market Emergents
  • TMI vs GDP
  • Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
  • Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

  • Economic considerations and responses
  • Subscribers
  • Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

  • Regulatory authorities
    • Ministry for Communications (MoC)
    • Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
    • Telecom Commission
    • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
    • Telecom Dispute Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)
    • Communications Commission of India (CCI)
    • Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • Fixed-line developments
    • Licensing circles
    • Licensing - VNOs
    • Net Neutrality
    • Interconnect
    • Fibre access
  • Mobile network developments
    • Spectrum
    • Mobile subscriber verification
    • Interconnection
    • Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Mobile market

  • Urban versus rural divide
  • Mobile infrastructure
    • 5G
    • 4G/LTE
    • CDMA
    • Other infrastructure developments
    • Mobile broadband
  • Major mobile operators
    • Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL)
    • Bharti Airtel
    • Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL)
    • Vodafone Idea
    • Quadrant
    • Reliance Communications (RCOM)
    • Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio)
    • Tata Teleservices (TTSL)
    • Reach Mobile
    • MVNOs

Fixed-line broadband market

  • National Broadband Plan
  • Fixed broadband ISPs
    • Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL)
    • Bharti Airtel
    • Hughes Telecom
    • Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL)
    • Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT)
    • Vodafone Idea
    • Reliance Jio
  • Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
  • Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
  • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
  • Other fixed broadband services
    • Wi-Fi

Digital economy

  • e-Payments

Fixed network market

  • Major network operators
  • BSNL
  • Bharti Airtel
  • MTNL
  • Quadrant
  • Reliance Communications
  • TATA Teleservices
  • Vodafone Idea

Telecommunications infrastructure

  • National telecom network
    • Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
    • BharatNet / National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN)
    • Public Call Offices (PCOs)
  • International infrastructure
    • Submarine cable networks
    • Satellite networks
  • Data Centres
  • Smart infrastructure
    • IoT

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

  • Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - India - 2022 (e)
  • Table 2 - Change in mobile ARPU (contract, prepaid, blended) (? / month) - 2017 - 2021
  • Table 3 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Table 4 - Change in mobile penetration in urban and rural areas - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 5 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers, penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Table 6 - Change in the mobile market share of subscribers (major MNOs) - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 7 - Change in the number of BSNL's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 8 - Growth in the number of Bharti Airtel's mobile subscribers (million) - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 9 - Change in Bharti Airtel's mobile ARPU - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 10 - Change in the number of MTNL's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 11 - Growth in the number of Vodafone Idea's mobile subscribers (company data) (million) - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 12 - Change in Vodafone Idea mobile ARPU - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 13 - Change in the number of RCOM's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 14 - Growth in the number of Reliance Jio's mobile subscribers - 2016 - 2021
  • Table 15 - Reliance mobile ARPU - 2017 - 2021
  • Table 16 - Decline in the number of Tata Teleservices' mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2018
  • Table 17 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Table 18 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2019
  • Table 19 - Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers - 2012 - 2019
  • Table 20 - Change in the number of DSL subscribers - 2012 - 2019
  • Table 21 - Change in the number of fixed-line subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Table 22 - Market share of fixed-lines in service by main provider - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 23 - Decline in the number of BSNL's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 24 - Decline in BSNL's financial data (? billion) - 2012 - 2022
  • Table 25 - Growth in the number of Bharti Airtel's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 26 - Change in Bharti Airtel group financial data (? billion) - 2012 - 2022
  • Table 27 - Decline in the number of MTNL's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 28 - Change in MTNL's financial data (? billion) - 2014 - 2022
  • Table 29 - Change in the number of Quadrant's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 30 - Decline in the number of Reliance's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 31 - Decline in Reliance Communication's financial data (? billion) - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 32 - Growth in the number of Tata's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 33 - Growth in Tata communication group financial data (? billion) - 2016 - 2022
  • Table 34 - Growth in the number of Vodafone Idea's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 35 - Development of Vodafone Idea's financial data (? billion) - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 36 - Decline in the number of PCOs in operation - 2012 - 2021
  • Table 37 - Growth in international internet bandwidth - 2012 - 2020
  • Table 38 - Historic - Mobile subscribers (GSM and CDMA) (million) - 2002 - 2017
  • Table 39 - Historic - Vodafone Idea - mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2011
  • Table 40 - Historic - Vodafone - mobile ARPU - 2008 - 2018
  • Table 41 - Historic - Vodafone mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2017
  • Table 42 - Historic - Reliance mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2011
  • Table 43 - Historic - MTNL mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2011
  • Table 44 - Historic - Bharti Airtel mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2011
  • Table 45 - Historic - Tata Teleservices mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2011
  • Table 46 - Historic - BSNL mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2011
  • Table 47 - Historic - Bharti Airtel mobile ARPU - 2005 - 2011
  • Table 48 - Historic - Quadrant mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2016
  • Table 49 - Historic - Sistema mobile subscribers - 2008 - 2016
  • Table 50 - Historic - Telenor mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2017
  • Table 51 - Historic - Aircel mobile subscribers - 2004 - 2018
  • Table 52 - Historic - Reliance mobile ARPU - 2008 - 2017
  • Table 53 - Historic - Mobile ARPU (GSM and CDMA) (? / month) - 2005 - 2013
  • Table 54 - Historic - Dial-up internet subscribers - 2007 - 2012
  • Table 55 - Historic - International internet bandwidth - 2000 - 2011
  • Table 56 - Historic - Number of licensed ISPs - 2002 - 2013
  • Table 57 - Historic - Cable modem subscribers - 2001 - 2011
  • Table 58 - Historic - DSL subscribers - 2001 - 2011
  • Table 59 - Historic - Reliance communication fixed-line subscribers - 2005 - 2011
  • Table 60 - Historic - Sistema fixed-line subscribers - 2010 - 2017
  • Table 61 - Historic - Videocon mobile subscribers - 2010 - 2015
  • Table 62 - Historic - Fixed-line subscribers and teledensity - 1995 - 2005
  • Table 63 - Historic - Change in mobile annualized ARPU (GSM and CDMA) (? / month) - 2014 - 2018
  • Table 64 - Historic - Development of internet penetration - 2008 - 2011
  • Table 65 - Historic - Decline in the number of BSNL's fixed-line subscribers - 2008 - 2011
  • Table 66 - Historic - Growth in the number of Bharti Airtel's fixed-line subscribers - 2008 - 2011
  • Table 67 - Historic - Decline in the number of PCOs in operation - 2008 - 2011

List of Charts

  • Chart 1 - Asia Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Leaders
  • Chart 2 - Asia Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers
  • Chart 3 - Asia Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents
  • Chart 4 - Asia - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
  • Chart 5 - Asia - Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
  • Chart 6 - Central Asia - Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
  • Chart 7 - Central Asia - Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
  • Chart 8 - Change in mobile ARPU (contract, prepaid, blended) - 2017 - 2021
  • Chart 9 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Chart 10 - Change in mobile penetration in urban and rural areas - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 11 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers, penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Chart 12 - Change in the mobile market share of subscribers (major MNOs) - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 13 - Change in the number of BSNL's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 14 - Growth in the number of Bharti Airtel's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 15 - Change in Bharti Airtel's mobile ARPU - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 16 - Change in the number of MTNL's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 17 - Growth in the number of Vodafone Idea's mobile subscribers (company data) - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 18 - Change in Vodafone Idea mobile ARPU - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 19 - Change in the number of RCOM's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 20 - Growth in the number of Reliance Jio's mobile subscribers - 2016 - 2021
  • Chart 21 - Reliance mobile ARPU - 2017 - 2021
  • Chart 22 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Chart 23 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2019
  • Chart 24 - Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers - 2012 - 2019
  • Chart 25 - Change in the number of DSL subscribers - 2012 - 2019
  • Chart 26 - Change in the number of fixed-line subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
  • Chart 27 - Decline in the number of BSNL's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 28 - Decline in BSNL's financial data - 2012 - 2022
  • Chart 29 - Growth in the number of Bharti Airtel's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 30 - Change in Bharti Airtel group financial data - 2012 - 2022
  • Chart 31 - Decline in the number of MTNL's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 32 - Change in MTNL's financial data - 2014 - 2022
  • Chart 33 - Change in the number of Quadrant's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 34 - Decline in the number of Reliance's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 35 - Decline in Reliance Communication's financial data - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 36 - Growth in the number of Tata's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 37 - Growth in Tata communication group financial data - 2016 - 2022
  • Chart 38 - Growth in the number of Vodafone Idea's fixed-line subscribers - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 39 - Development of Vodafone Idea's financial data - 2012 - 2021
  • Chart 40 - Decline in the number of PCOs in operation - 2012 - 2021

List of Exhibits

  • Exhibit 1 - Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Asia
  • Exhibit 2 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
  • Exhibit 3 - Asia - Market Leaders and market developments
  • Exhibit 4 - Asia - Market Challengers and market developments
  • Exhibit 5 - Asia - Market Emergents and market developments
  • Exhibit 6 - Spectrum auction results - 2016
  • Exhibit 7 - CDMA 3G commercial deployments in India
  • Exhibit 8 - Major shareholders in Bharti Airtel
  • Exhibit 9 - International submarine cable systems with landing points in India
  • Exhibit 10 - ISRO satellite network
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