Just over 37 million of the 65 million DTH subscribers active: TRAI

Just over 37 million of the 65 million DTH subscribers active: TRAI

NEW DELHI: The six private direct-to-home (DTH) operators were serving a total of 64.82 million registered subscribers at the end of the first quarter of the calendar year 2014.

However, the number of active subscribers was 37.19 million, according to a report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Apart from this, a large number of subscribers are served by Doordarshan’s DTH service.

A total of 187 satellite television channels were encrypted (pay) out of the total 793 permitted by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry at the end of the first quarter ending March 2014. The number of pay channels is as reported by the broadcasters for which the rates have been taken on record.

The maximum number of TV channels being carried by any of the reported MSOs was 387 in DAS areas, whereas the maximum number of channels carried is 100 in conventional analogue form.

Apart from All India Radio, there are 242 private FM Radio stations in operation at the quarter ending March 2014. The status of operationalised private FM Radio stations is listed on the website of the I and B Ministry.

The total number of internet subscribers has increased from 238.71 million at the end of December 2013 to 251.59 million at the end of March 2014, showing a quarterly growth of 5.4 per cent. Of these, the wired internet subscribers are 18.50 million and wireless internet subscribers are 233.09 million.

The number of broadband internet subscribers increased from 55.2 million at the end of December 2013 to 60.87 million at the end of March 2014, showing a quarterly growth of 10.28 per cent.

The number of narrowband internet subscribers increased from 183.51 million at the end of December 2013 to 190.72 million at the end of March 2014 with quarterly growth of 3.93 per cent.