DTH subscribers down 1.55 million in India in 1Q 2024

Indian Telecomn Services Performance Indicator Report for the Quarter January-March, 2024

NEW DELHI — The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today has released the “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter ending 31st March, 2024. 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 January, 2024 to 31st March, 2024 compiled mainly on the basis of information furnished by the Service Providers.

                                      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      68.52

                                      2022
------------------------------------------
End-March   End-June  End-Sept.   End-Dec.
---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    66.92      67.04      65.58      66.62

                                      2023
------------------------------------------
End-March   End-June  End-Sept.   End-Dec.
---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    65.25      65.50      64.18      63.52

                                      2024
------------------------------------------
End-March   End-June  End-Sept.   End-Dec.
---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    61.97

Tata Play Limited        32.53%
Dish TV India Ltd.       20.46%
Bharti Telemedia Ltd.    28.45%
Sun Direct TV Ptv. Ltd.  18.57%

Direct-to-Home (DTH) Sector

During the quarter ending 31st March 2024, there are 4 pay DTH service providers.

Pay DTH has attained total active subscriber base of around 61.97 million. This is in addition to the subscribers of the DD Free Dish (free DTH services of Doordarshan). The total active subscriber base has decreased from 63.52 million in December 2023 to 61.97 million in March 2024.

Quarterly growth in the DTH sector in terms of the total active subscriber base and market share of DTH operators in terms of percentage of total active subscribers during the quarter ending 31st March, 2024 is depicted in the following charts.

Total active subscriber base of pay DTH sector
(in millions)

Cable TV Sector

As on 31st March 2024, there are 880 MSOs and 1 HITS operator registered with MIB. As per the data reported by MSOs and HITS operator, as on 31st March 2024, there are 11 MSOs & 1 HITS operator who have subscriber base greater than one million. A list of such major MSOs and HITS operators is attached as Annexure 5.2. Details of subscriber base of major MSO and HITS Operators (greater than one million) are given in following table:

Subscriber base of major MSOs/HITS operators at the end of March, 2024
(more than one million subscribers)

Rank  Name of operator                       Total Active Subscriber Base*
----  -------------------------------------  -----------------------------
1     GTPL Hathway                                               91,07,022
2     Siti Networks Ltd.                                         53,00,428
3     Hathway Digital Ltd.                                       52,92,476
4     Thamigzha Cable TV Communication Ltd.                      38,13,509
5     Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd                             34,96,432
6     Den Networks Ltd.                                          34,55,854
7     NXT Digital Ltd. (HITS operator)                           25,79,033
8     KAL Cables                                                 20,01,969
9     VK Digital                                                 16,03,039
10    Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV                                  15,77,636
11    Fastway Transmission Pvt. Ltd                              14,63,512
12    NXT Digital Ltd                                            12,61,409

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

IPTV

At present, as per the reported subscriber figures, the details in respect of IPTV operators who are operational is as under.

Active IPTV Subscriber Base

S.No.  Name of IPTV Operator                      March 2024
-----  -----------------------------------------  ----------
1.     Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet Ltd (APSFL)     568,350
2.     M/s. City Online Media Pvt. Ltd                 6,566
3.     M/s. Wi-bro Solutions Pvt. Ltd                  1,186
4.     M/s. V.K. Digital Network Pvt. Ltd                 46
5.     M/s. E2 Info Solutions                            373