Subscribers data for Dec'09 byTRAI

According to the press release by TRAI, the following are the updated figures (as of 27-Jan-2010) regarding the mobile subscribers:

• 18.98  million telephone connections (19.10 wireless subscribers less 0.12 wireline subscribers) added in Dec'09
• Teledensity reaches 47.89% mark
• Total number of telephone connections reaches 562.21 million (525.15 million wireless and 37.06 million wireline)
• The service provider-wise wireless subscriber details are as follows:
• Airtel: 118.9 million subscribers (increased by 2.9 million)
• Reliance: 93.8 million subscribers (increased by 2.8 million)
  
• Vodafone Essar: 91.4 million subscribers (increased by 2.8 million)
• BSNL: 62.9 million subscribers (increased by 2.1 million)
• Idea: 57.6 million subscribers (increased by 1.7 million)
• Tata Teleservices: 57.3 million subscribers (increased by 3.3 million)
• Aircel: 31.0 million subscribers (increased by 1.6 million)

Source: http://www.trai.gov.in

Subscribers data for May'09 by TRAI

According to the press release by TRAI, the following are the updated figures (as of 19-June-2009) regarding the mobile subscribers:

• 11.44 million telephone connections (11.59 wireless subscribers less 0.15 wireline subscribers) added in May'09
• Teledensity reaches 38.88% mark
• Total number of telephone connections reaches 452.91 million (415.25 million wireless and 37.66 million wireline)
  
• The service provider-wise wireless subscriber details are as follows:
• Airtel: 99.5 million subscribers (increased by 2.8 million)
• Reliance: 77.2 million subscribers (increased by 2.4 million)
  
• Vodafone Essar: 74.1 million subscribers (increased by 2.6 million)
• BSNL: 53.6 million subscribers (increased by 0.4 million)
  
• Idea: 41.2 million subscribers (increased by 1.2 million)
• Tata Teleservices: 36.5 million subscribers (increased by 0.8 million)
• Aircel: 20.7 million subscribers (increased by 1.1 million)
  

Source: http://www.trai.gov.in

Subscribers data for April'09 by TRAI

According to the press release by TRAI, the following are the updated figures (as of 01-June-2009) regarding the mobile subscribers:

• 11.75 million telephone connections (11.90 wireless subscribers less 0.15 wireline subscribers) added in April'09
• Teledensity reaches 37.94% mark
• Total number of telephone connections reaches 441.47 million (403.66 million wireless and 37.81 million wireline)
  
• The service provider-wise wireless subscriber details are as follows:
• Airtel: 96.7 million subscribers (increased by 2.8 million)
• Reliance: 74.8 million subscribers (increased by 2.1 million)
  
• Vodafone Essar: 71.5 million subscribers (increased by 2.7 million)
• BSNL: 53.2 million subscribers (increased by 1.1 million)
  
• Idea: 40.0 million subscribers (increased by 1.1 million)
• Tata Teleservices: 35.7 million subscribers (increased by 0.6 million)

Source: http://www.trai.gov.in

Subscribers data for March'09 by TRAI

According to the press release by TRAI, the following are the updated figures (as of 21-Apr-2009) regarding the mobile subscribers:

• 15.87 million telephone connections (15.64 wireless subscribers and 0.23 wireline subscribers) added in March'09
• Teledensity reaches 36.98% mark
• Total number of telephone connections reaches 429.72 million (391.76 million wireless and 37.96 million wireline)
  
• The service provider-wise wireless subscriber details are as follows:
• Airtel: 93.9 million subscribers (increased by 2.8 million)
• Reliance: 72.7 million subscribers (increased by 3.1 million)
  
• Vodafone Essar: 68.8 million subscribers (increased by 2.9 million)
• BSNL: 52.1 million subscribers (increased by 2.9 million)
  
• Idea: 38.9 million subscribers (increased by 1.4 million)
• Tata Teleservices: 35.1 million subscribers (increased by 1.2 million)

Source: http://www.trai.gov.in

A few facts about India

Subscriber base: 376.12 million
Second highest in the world

Monthly subscribers addition: 10 million
One of the highest in the world

Wireless penetration: 35.65%
Lowest in the world

Prepaid base: 92%
One of the highest in the world

MoU: 449
One of the highest in the world

APRU: US$6.83
One of the lowest in the world

RPM: 1.4 cents
One of the lowest in the world

VAS: 9%
One of the lowest in the world

source:
[1] Anchor Report: Telecoms India: Nomura Singapore Ltd: 15 April 2009
[2] TRAI

Cost of tower

Finally I found out the cost of building a tower:

Ground-based tower: Rs. 27,50,000 (including Rs. 1,50,000 of annual opex)
Roof-top tower: Rs. 15,00,000 (including Rs. 1,50,000 of annual opex)

Sources
[1] UBS Investment Research, India Mobile Sector, dated 24th March'09, Global ER->India->Wireless Communications->Q-Series

3G subscribers estimates in Kolkata and Mumbai circle

Calcutta Telephones, the Kolkata Circle of BSNL launched 3G services on 21 March'09. Calcutta Telephones is looking at a 3G subscriber base of 75,000 by March'10. Interestingly, Calcutta Telephones currently has around 1.5 million subscribers. This means a conversion rate of 5% over 12 months.

MTNL plans to launch 3G services in Mumbai in May'09. MTNL is looking at a 3G subscriber base of 100,000 by Dec'09. Interestingly, MTNL currently has around 2.35 million subscribers. This means a conversion rate of around 4.25% over 7 months.

On a national average, out of 376.12 million wireless subscribers, 4-5% implies around 15.0 million to 18.8 million 3G subscribers in one year.

I, for one, find it extremely optimistic, given the fact that a typical mobile user in India is price-conscious, uses mobile phones primarily for voice communication, doesn't owns a 3G-enabled handset and would not be avail himself/herself of 3G facilities unless his/her partner also owns a 3G-enabled handset and has subscribed to 3G services.

Interestingly, according to a news article dated 16-Jul-2009, MTNL admitted that it had been able to attract only 1,000 3G subscribers in six months of operations.

Though, BSNL, according to a news article dated 20-Jul-2009, was doing better, at 13,000 subscribers since the launch of 3G services, though it was still much below its expectation of over 1,00,000 subscribers.
Source
[1] http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Telecom/Calcutta-Telephones-hopes-to-cover-entire-city-in-four-months/articleshow/4297472.cms
[2] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/3G-telephony-launched-in-city/articleshow/4298285.cms
[3] http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Telecom/MTNL-to-launch-3G-services-in-Mumbai-next-month/articleshow/4413540.cms
[4] http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Telecom/MTNL-calls-global-telcos-for-3G-bids/articleshow/4782502.cms
[5] http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Telecom/BSNL-launches-new-service-delivery-platform-for-3G-customers/articleshow/4799740.cms