DTH subscribers down 970,000 in India in 3Q 2021

Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter July-September, 2021

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, 2021. 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, 2021 to 30th September, 2021 compiled mainly on the basis of information furnished by the Service Providers.

                                      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

                                      2021
------------------------------------------
End-March   End-June  End-Sept.   End-Dec.
---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    69.57      69.86      68.89

Direct-to-Home (DTH) Sector

Since the introduction of DTH Sector in the year 2003, Indian DTH (direct-to-home) services have displayed a phenomenal growth. During the QE 30th September 2021, there were 4 pay DTH service providers in the country.

Pay DTH has attained total active subscriber base of around 68.89 million in QE 30th September 2021. 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 30th September 2021, there are 1745 (includes 2 provisional registered) MSOs registered with MIB. Further, as per the data reported by MSOs and 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, 2021
(more than one million subscribers)

                                                             2021
Rank  Operator                                           End-Sept
----  ------------------------------------------------  ---------
1.    GTPL Hathway Ltd.                                 7,799,167
2.    Siti Networks Ltd.                                7,649,554
3.    Hathway Digital Ltd.                              5,505,062
4.    Den Networks Ltd.                                 4,670,618
5.    Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication Pvt Ltd         3,762,040
6.    Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd                    2,935,006
7.    Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd         2,789,971
8.    Fastway Transmissions Pvt Ltd                     2,149,610
9.    KAL Cables Pvt. Ltd.                              2,123,566
10.   NXT Digital Ltd (HITS)                            2,005,747
11.   V K Digital Network Pvt. Ltd.                     1,906,348
12.   Asianet Digital Network Pvt. Ltd.                 1,175,658
13.   NXT Digital Ltd (Cable TV)                        1,056,902

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