MP laps up 4G as Jio eats into Vodafone, Reliance bases

Reliance Jio has added about 90 lakh subscribers in MP circle since its launch in September and has eaten into subscriber bases of older but not necessarily fiercer competitors including Reliance Communications and Vodafone.

Reliance Jio has added about 90 lakh subscribers in MP circle since its launch in September and has eaten into subscriber bases of older but not necessarily fiercer competitors including Reliance Communications and Vodafone.

Reliance Jio has added about 90 lakh subscribers in MP circle since its launch.(representational pic)

Experts say a large number of subscribers may have jumped from 2G to the 4G data service because of the lucrative offers by the telecom, thus giving 3G a miss.

According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), subscriber base data for July 2016, wireless (mobile) subscription base of Reliance Communication in MP circle was down to 1.08 crore as against 1.11 crore in June 2016.

Similarly, Vodafone’s wireless subscription base came down to 69 lakh from 70 lakh while that of Tata Teleservices was also down marginally. “There is no MP-specific data for 3G users, but it was estimated at 15% before the launch of 4G,” an official of a private telecom company said seeking anonymity.

People now watch audio-visual content streamed seamlessly through smartphones as companies struggle to promote high-end technology in phones priced reasonably.

“The 4G has got good response as the pricing is aggressive. While 2G is more voice-based, 3G will become obsolete,” telecom expert PVS Nagesh said.

However, smartphone users in Madhya Pradesh are only picking up the trend of mobile data usage.

While there are 6.3 crore mobile subscribers in Madhya Pradesh circle, which includes Chhattisgarh, mobile internet user base is around 2 crore.

Public sector telecom operator BSNL has managed to reverse the trend of falling wireless subscriber base in MP circle. TRAI data states BSNL’s wireless subscriber base in MP circle has climbed up to 45.44 lakhs from 33.40 lakhs as on March 31, 2015. Company officials attribute the recent reversal in trend to improvement in network quality and greater penetration in semi-urban areas.