India adds 120,000 DTH subscribers in 3Q 2020

Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for the Quarter ending July-September, 2020

                                      2018
------------------------------------------
End-March   End-June  End-Sept.   End-Dec.
---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    67.53      69.37      69.45      70.49

                                      2019
------------------------------------------
End-March   End-June  End-Sept.   End-Dec.
---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    72.44      68.92      69.30      69.98

                                      2020
------------------------------------------
End-March   End-June  End-Sept.   End-Dec.
---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    70.26      70.58      70.70

NEW DELHI — The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today has released the “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter ending 30th September, 2020. This Report provides a broad perspective of the Telecom Services in India and presents the key parameters and growth trends of the Telecom Services as well as Cable TV, DTH & Radio Broadcasting services in India for the period covering 1st July, 2020 to 30th September, 2020 compiled mainly on the basis of information furnished by the Service Providers.

Direct-to-Home (DTH) Sector

Since its introduction in the year 2003, Indian DTH service has displayed a phenomenal growth. During the quarter ending 30th September, 2020, there were 4 pay DTH service providers in India. A list of DTH Operators is attached as Annexure 5.3.

Pay DTH has attained Total active subscriber base of around 70.70 million. This is in addition to the subscribers of the DD Free Dish (free DTH services of Doordarshan). The total active subscriber base has increased from 70.58 million in June 2020 to 70.70 million in September 2020.

Cable TV Sector

The country has achieved 100% digitization of Cable TV network. This is a stupendous achievement making India as the only large country where 100% digital cable has been achieved through mandatory regulations.

As on 30th September 2020, there are 1697 (includes 2 provisional MSOs) MSOs registered with MIB. Further, as per the data reported by MSOs/HITS operators, there are 12 MSOs & 1 HITS operator who have subscriber base greater than one million.

Subscriber base of major MSOs/HITS operators at the end of September, 2020 (More than one million subscribers):

                                                Total Active 
     Operator                               Subscriber Base*
---  -------------------------------------  ----------------
1.   Siti Networks                                 8,782,263
2.   GTPL Hathway                                  7,725,525
3.   Hathway Digital                               5,281,920
4.   Den Networks                                  5,019,021
5.   TCCL                                          3,045,216
6.   Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV                     3,024,345
7.   Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd (KCCL)         2,985,112
8.   Fastway Transmissions Pvt Ltd                 2,238,075
9.   NXT Digital Ltd (HITS)                        2,142,184
10.  KAL Cables                                    1,987,947
11.  VK Digital                                    1,659,460
12.  NXT Digital Ltd (CATV)                        1,285,222
13.  Asianet Digital Network                       1,226,453

* includes subscribers who have been inactive or temporarily suspended for not more than last 90 days.