India adds 290,000 DTH subscribers in 4Q 2020

“Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter ending October – December, 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      70.99

NEW DELHI — The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today has released the “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter ending 31st December, 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 October, 2020 to 31st December, 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, DTH (direct-to-home) service has displayed a phenomenal growth. During QE 31st December 2020, there were 4 pay DTH service providers in the country.

Pay DTH has attained total active subscriber base of around 70.99 million in QE 31st December 2020. This is in addition the subscribers of DTH Free Dish (free DTH services of Doordarshan).

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 31st December 2020, there are 1704 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 December, 2020 (more than one million subscribers):

Rank  Operator                                         Subscriber Base*
----  -----------------------------------------------  ----------------
1.    Siti Networks                                           8,575,483
2.    GTPL Hathway                                            7,696,965
3.    Hathway Digital                                         5,471,637
4.    Den Networks                                            4,943,116
5.    Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication Pvt Ltd (TCCL)        3,472,967
6.    Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd (KCCL)                   3,023,346
7.    Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV                               3,010,307
8.    Fastway Transmissions Pvt Ltd                           2,237,148
9.    NXT Digital Ltd (HITS)                                  2,118,820
10.   KAL Cables                                              2,007,770
11.   VK Digital                                              1,712,025
12.   NXT Digital Ltd (Cable TV)                              1,238,164
13.   Asianet Digital Network                                 1,226,940

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