Pvt sector provides over 5 cr phones

Reliance Infocomm occupies the top place among private operators with maximum number of phone connections at over 1.33 crore (Rs 13.3 million), Communication and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Of the total 10.33 crore (103.3 million) phones in the country, the private sector has provided about 5.05 crore (50.5 million) phones (48.93 per cent), with Reliance on top followed by Bharti group at 1.23 crore (12.3 million) phone connections, he said.

Maran confirmed that private players do not have significant share in rural areas and one of the reasons for this is the licences do not stipulate mandatory rural roll-out obligations.

Replying to another query, Maran said representations have been received about consultation paper issued by telecom regulator TRAI on the access deficit charge that TRAI is bent upon imposing the proposed burden in the form of ADC.