A recent TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) report indicated that the country has achieved around one million 4G LTE subscribers as on 30 June 2015.
The TRAI report says about 25 percent of the total wireless subscribers use wireless data (Internet) services in India.
There were about 300 million wireless Internet subscribers in the country as on 30 June 2015. Out of this subscriber base, about 207 million subscribers use 2G (GPRS, EDGE and CDMA-1X) networks to access Internet, about 92 million subscribers use 3G (HSPA, WCDMA, EVDO etc.) and rest are 4G LTE subscribers.
TRAI STATISTICS ON MOBILE INTERNET
1 million 4G subscribers
92 million 3G subscribers
207 million 2G subscribers
2G subscribers use about 200 MB per month, while 3G users utilize about 800 MB per month, said TRAI. There is no statistics available on data consumption by 4G subscribers.
The TRAI report indicates that Bharti Airtel, the only 4G operator to launch LTE commercially, has achieved around one million 4G users. Airtel is yet to celebrate the one million mark. Bharti Airtel 4G is available in 330 plus telecom markets in the country. Since Airtel is investing more – Rs 60,000 crore – on network expansion, the number of 4G user is expected to increase.
The good news is that the availability of cost effective 4G smartphones will be boosting the pickup for 4G data packages. Indian smartphone users can pick up devices from Apple iPhone, Samsung, Lenovo, Micromax, Microsoft, Lava and Xolo.
The 4G market will be growing as Vodafone India just announced the launch of its 4G in Kochi. Airtel launched 4G in Kochi recently. Vodafone 4G – on 1800 MHz band — will reach 5 key markets including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata in the first phase. Vodafone 4G service will be reaching Trivandrum and Kozhikode, two important cities in Kerala, shortly.
Reliance Jio Infocomm will have its 4G roll out in 18,000 towns in the next 12 months. Reliance Jio is committing $15 billion in network roll outs and spectrum.
Idea Cellular, the Aditya Birla group company, is investing funds to reach 4G to 750 towns – starting from the second half of 2016.
Baburajan K
[email protected]
