Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai attends reception commemorating 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
On the morning of May 8, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, attended a reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). In remarks, President Lai stated that our commemoration of the Victory in Europe underscores three crucial points: The pursuit of true peace is dependent on determination and efforts to protect freedom and democracy, and must be achieved through strength and unity; only freedom and democracy can truly bring about national development, and only with respect for human dignity can a nation itself earn respect; and remembering the lessons learned from the history of the war, those who cherish peace must remain vigilant toward acts of aggression.
The president emphasized that as Taiwan and Europe are now facing the threat of a new authoritarian bloc, lovers of freedom around the world, both individuals and nations, must work together to make sure that aggressors have no opportunity to advance on their ambitions. He said he is confident that so long as we combine our efforts, our strength can earn us true and lasting peace; so long as we join together in solidarity, our freedom can illuminate the vast, boundless world; so long as we stand firm in our convictions, we absolutely can protect our way of life, the homelands that support us, and every lover of freedom and democracy.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: 
We are solemnly gathered here today, along with representatives from nations around the world, to mark VE Day – the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. This is the first time that Taiwan is commemorating the war in Europe, signifying our growing connections with the international community.
Peace is priceless, and war has no winners. WWII was undoubtedly the deadliest war in human history, and the pain that it caused has echoed even to the present day.
On this day 80 years ago, Nazi representatives surrendered to the Allies, symbolizing the end of WWII in Europe. The Allies then shifted their focus to the Pacific theater, where the war ended three months later.
Victory in Europe was the beginning of the end of this long road, and it was a point at which humanity could start to envision a world beyond the war.
Victory in Europe counted on different countries all combining their efforts. And today, this event has brought together representatives from a total of 17 countries in addition to the European Union, a testament to the value of cooperation.
Our commemoration of VE Day underscores three crucial points:
First, the foundation for victory in WWII was built from determination and actions throughout human society to unite and resist aggression, defend hearth and home, and pursue true peace.
History has taught us that no matter the driving reason or ideology, military aggression against another country is an unjust crime that is bound to fail. Those who unite as partners to defend their homelands, freedom, and democracy ultimately emerge victorious.
In less than one month from now, we will also be marking the 81st anniversary of the Normandy landings, when airborne divisions descended and beachheads were established by Allied troops fighting courageously across different landing sites.
Through the cooperation and efforts of the Allies, as well as the sacrifices of freedom fighters in occupied territories, Europe was liberated from authoritarian enslavement. From this, we learned that the pursuit of true peace is dependent on determination and efforts to protect freedom and democracy, and must be achieved through strength and unity.
Second, the countries that were formerly Axis powers are now all 100 percent democratic, enjoying true peace and prosperity and respected the world over.
This proves that only freedom and democracy can truly bring about national development, and only with respect for human dignity can a nation itself earn respect. Authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy, and greater inequality.
When we look back at post-war history, we see that civilizations with democratic elections, free markets, and respect for human rights are those that humanity should pursue. We also see the value of freedom and democracy, and the reason why tens of millions of Allied soldiers crossed oceans or set foot on unfamiliar lands to fight gruesome battles.
Now, I would like to share the words of former United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during the war. In his order of the day for D-Day, he wrote: “Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.” These words tell us why we must commemorate the war in Europe; they also remind us again that freedom and democracy, being so precious, can only be resolutely defended through strength and constant vigilance. 
Third, those who cherish peace cannot sit idly by and allow aggression. The outbreak of the war in Europe certainly had much to do with an authoritarian regime seeking to satisfy its expansionary ambitions, but its wider spread throughout Europe had much more to do with a lack of vigilance toward acts of aggression.
At many points in history, people have thought to give the aggressor a small concession to earn peace. But as we all know from the painful lessons of WWII, indulging aggressors with a taste of expansion only whets their appetite; it makes them more confident and hungrier for more. They will continue their conquest until democratic countries have fallen and the light of freedom has been extinguished; until the last person unwilling to bend is eliminated. Only then will the aggressors stop. 
WWII broke out because ambitions for conquest were ignored; it was won by bringing together in solidarity every last bit of will to resist and defend hearth and home. 
The war in Europe ended 80 years ago. The meaning of that history is now as clear as day. After those 80 years, Taiwan now shares the same values as many of the democratic countries that fought in the war, and we face similar challenges.
Taiwan and Europe are now facing the threat of a new authoritarian bloc. We are seeing our decades-old undersea cables, crucial for communications and cybersecurity, being sabotaged. We are seeing external interference in our elections, crucial for healthy democratic development, through the spread of misinformation and disinformation, sowing intentional division in society. We are seeing our fair, free, and open international rules-based markets being tested by all manner of gray-zone activities, intrusions, dumping, and pressures.
Whenever we commemorate the peace at the end of the war in Europe, we must not forget the lessons learned from its history.
Lovers of freedom around the world, both individuals and nations, must work together now in tight solidarity, before risks turn into crises and before crises are taken advantage of by those with ambitions for outward expansion, to make sure that aggressors have no opportunity to advance on their ambitions. Only then can we continue on for generations with our current way of life; only then can we retain our human dignity and values.
This is our opportunity; there is no better time than now. I am confident that so long as we combine our efforts, our strength can earn us true and lasting peace. I am confident that so long as we join together in solidarity, our freedom can illuminate the vast, boundless world. And I am confident that so long as we stand firm in our convictions, we absolutely can protect our way of life, the homelands that support us, and every lover of freedom and democracy.
And so, let us keep striving together, From VE Day to Every Day. Thank you.
Also in attendance at the event were Head of the European Economic and Trade Office Lutz Güllner, British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones, and other diplomatic representatives in Taiwan.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Legislative Councillor for the Technology & Innovation Functional Constituency Duncan Chiu believes the Middle East can be a fertile market for Hong Kong tech companies looking to expand overseas.

Mr Chiu will be part of Chief Executive John Lee’s delegation on a visit to Qatar and Kuwait from Saturday and hopes the trip can provide insights into the two countries’ technology needs. Noting that both countries are reliant on imported technology, he stressed that Hong Kong companies’ strengths in areas such as artificial intelligence, life sciences and chip design mean they have much to offer the Middle Eastern market.

“I know that some Hong Kong people, especially people I know in the tech sector, they have moved to Qatar and were involved in the operation of the Tech Park (Qatar Science & Technology Park) and other university involvements,” he said. “Qatar is quite keen to have collaboration with Hong Kong and Mainland China in tech collaborations, not just in the purchasing of technology, but also collaboration in research and development.”

With the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government setting up a $10 billion Innovation & Technology Industry-Oriented Fund, Mr Chiu anticipates such funds can open the door to new investment in Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector from the sizeable sovereign wealth funds in Qatar and Kuwait.

Mr Chiu also plans to invite stakeholders from Qatar and Kuwait to visit Hong Kong.

“We have put in a lot of resources and efforts in Hong Kong in building up the tech ecosystem. So, I want to first let them know what has been happening in Hong Kong. And second, I would like to invite them to join our conferences and exhibitions in Hong Kong in August.”

In the past two years, Mr Chiu has organised return visits to Hong Kong after accompanying the Chief Executive on trips to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states.

He said Hong Kong companies have successfully recruited talent and expanded their operations in Singapore and Indonesia as a result of these exchanges, adding that he hopes to replicate this approach in relation to the Middle East.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau will depart for a visit to Beijing today in the late afternoon to call on central ministries and meet representatives of Hong Kong enterprises there.

Mr Yau will then proceed to Qatar on Saturday. Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be the Acting Secretary during Mr Yau’s absence.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Customs today arrested a director and a company secretary over alleged wrongful acceptance of payments, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

The arrests were made after Customs received reports that private healthcare facilities operated by the company concerned had closed and subsequently failed to provide customers with services that had already been paid for.

Investigations revealed that before their suspected closure the facilities were still accepting payments for prepaid services.

Under the TDO, it is considered an offence if at the time of accepting payment a trader intends not to supply a product or intends to supply a materially different product, or if there is no reasonable ground for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period.

The arrests made were of a 61-year-old male director and a 31-year-old female company secretary.

As of 5pm on Wednesday, Customs and Police had received 1,686 reports in relation to the matter. They will continue to investigate and will take appropriate enforcement actions.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Council had received 844 complaints and said it will handle these in accordance with procedures.

On May 3, the Department of Health set up a dedicated telephone hotline, email address and WhatsApp number to handle public enquiries, free of charge. As of Wednesday, 112 enquiries had been received, including 50 concerning vaccines for children and 56 relating to vaccines for patients in other age groups.

The Government announced on May 2 that an inter-departmental team had been set up to look into the suspected closure of certain private healthcare facilities.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee will lead a delegation to the Middle East on Saturday, with his trip encompassing visits to Qatar and Kuwait.

Executive Council member and Legislative Councillor for the Commercial Functional Constituency Jeffrey Lam, who will be part of Mr Lee’s delegation, explained that the Middle East has seen rapid development in recent years in areas such as finance, infrastructure and tourism. He believes there is significant potential for economic co-operation with Hong Kong, and that the city must accelerate its exploration of emerging overseas markets.

Mr Lam expressed optimism about the potential for such co-operation, noting that – as an international financial centre – Hong Kong is ideally positioned to advance collaborative efforts in various sectors.

“Especially after the import duty trade war started by the US, a lot of people do not want to rest all their investments or businesses in the US. So, they are looking into Hong Kong, the Middle East, Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, etc.”

Mr Lam added that he hopes the trip can facilitate opportunities for co-operation related to new energy. He highlighted that the Middle East, traditionally reliant on oil, is increasingly interested in diversifying and adopting new technologies.

“Solar energy is another area that we can develop,” he said. “Imagine 6.5 to 8.5 hours of sunlight, how we can save that energy and use that energy. That needs technology to accomplish it.”

Mr Lam also outlined that in addition to helping Hong Kong businesses develop opportunities overseas, the delegation hopes to bring in more capital from the Middle East region. This includes attracting companies to set up regional headquarters in Hong Kong, leveraging the city’s role as a hub connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world.

Source: Government of India

Through Operation Sindoor, India used its ‘Right to Respond’ to the attack on its soil: Raksha Mantri

“Armed Forces scripted history by acting with precision, precaution and compassion to destroy terror camps in Pakistan & PoK”

Shri Rajnath Singh virtually dedicates 50 infrastructure projects of BRO to the nation

The projects in eight border States/UTs, constructed at a total cost of Rs 1,879 crore, to enhance connectivity, strengthen national security & promote economic prosperity

Posted On: 07 MAY 2025 5:50PM by PIB Delhi

“Through Operation Sindoor, India has used its ‘Right to Respond’ to the attack on its soil, and the Armed Forces scripted history by acting with precision, precaution & compassion to destroy the camps used to train terrorists in Pakistan and PoK,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing the 66^th Raising Day event of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt on May 07, 2025. Raksha Mantri asserted that, as per the plan, the targets were destroyed and no civilian population was harmed. He commended the Armed Forces by giving a befitting reply under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

“The whole world has witnessed what our Armed Forces have done today. The action was carried out very thoughtfully and in a measured manner. It was limited only to the camps and other infrastructure used for training terrorists, with the aim of breaking their morale. I congratulate the Armed Forces on behalf of the whole country. I also congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for providing complete support to the forces,” added Shri Rajnath Singh.

The event also witnessed the virtual dedication of 50 strategically-significant infrastructure projects of BRO – 30 bridges, 17 roads and three other works – to the nation by Raksha Mantri. These projects, constructed at a total cost of Rs 1,879 crore, are spread across six border States and two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, West Bengal & Rajasthan – reinforcing India’s security, connectivity and development in remote regions. In the last two years alone, BRO has completed a record 161 infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,600 crore, including 111 projects last year.  In the last four years, BRO has completed 456 infrastructure projects with a total expenditure of Rs 13,743 crore.

Shri Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that the projects e-inaugurated today will enhance connectivity, strengthen national security and promote economic prosperity of all these regions. “These projects will enhance defence preparedness and boost transportation, tourism & economic activity in these areas. These are not just infrastructure assets; they are pathways to a brighter future,” he added.

Underlining the strategic importance of BRO’s work, Raksha Mantri stated that modern defence capability depends not just on weaponry but also on the infrastructure that supports it. “You can have the fastest tank or the most advanced aircraft, but if they can’t reach where they are needed on time, they serve no purpose. BRO plays a critical role in making sure our military is always ready and well-positioned,” he said, commending BRO Karmayogis who work behind the scenes and contribute to national security.

Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised on the need to build new generation infrastructure for the Armed Forces in view of the current geopolitical scenario. BRO must ensure that the preparations are at war-level, he said.

Raksha Mantri reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensure border area development, making special mention of Sela Tunnel which has become a symbol of this resolve to enhance connectivity in strategically-important areas. He highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to revitalise border villages, stating that initiatives like the Vibrant Villages Programme under which the Government is increasing connectivity by building about 35 kilometers of roads every day.

In his address, Director General Border Roads (DGBR) Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan highlighted the growing national importance of BRO, stating that the organisation has emerged as the agency of choice for key central ministries for executing infrastructure projects in the most challenging terrains. He reaffirmed the BRO’s commitment to the well-being and dignity of its workforce, including GREF personnel and Casual Paid Labourers.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs Shri Kiran Rijiju, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, PP/DoPT, Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior officials of Ministry of Defence were present at the venue.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, Rajasthan Governor Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu, Mizoram Chief Minister Shri Lalduhoma, Jammu & Kashmir Lt Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, Lt Governor Ladakh Brig. (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) joined the event virtually.

******

VK/Savvy/KB

(Release ID: 2127561) Visitor Counter : 15

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the Fondation de France Asia second edition of signature’s Night for Philanthropy today (May 7):
 
Deputy Consul General Hubin (Deputy Consul-General of France, Mr Benjamin Hubin), Mrs Axelle Davezac (Chief Executive Officer of the Fondation de France), Dr Andrew Yuen (Ambassador of the Fondation de France Asia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. I am most delighted to join you at tonight’s Night for Philanthropy, and my thanks to the Fondation de France Asia (Foundation) for your kind invitation so that I can share the joy and great spirit of this meaningful and exceptional event.
 
     Further to our celebration of the Foundation’s establishment in Hong Kong in July last year, I am sure we are all excited to gather again tonight to rejoice the stronger ties between France and Hong Kong, under the banner of the common good, while enjoying the wonderful arts, culture, food and wine on this beautiful occasion.
 
     Hong Kong itself has a deep tradition of philanthropy. About 10 600 charities in Hong Kong have contributed tremendously towards building and enhancing our social fabric, ranging from our schools, hospitals to elderly homes and welfare facilities. In financial year 2023-2024, approved charitable donations from business donors stood at about HK$4.8 billion; while for individual donors, approved charitable donations amounted to about HK$7.4 billion.
 
     It is our vision to develop Hong Kong into a philanthropic centre for global family offices and philanthropists to deploy charitable capital benefiting Hong Kong, the Mainland and the overseas. This vision is not just aspirational, but is indeed deeply rooted in Hong Kong’s unique strengths: our strategic location and unique proximity to China; robust legal framework and adherence to the rule of law; as well as a vibrant financial ecosystem with a strong banking system, extensive capital markets, and availability of professional services and talents. These altogether help make Hong Kong an ideal platform for philanthropic endeavours. But beyond these tangible assets, I believe Hong Kong’s true potential lies in the people here in the city – your compassion, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to building a better society.
 
     The Foundation, with its dedication to creating tailored projects for donors interested in supporting cross-border philanthropic initiatives, has certainly been a catalyst for positive change in Hong Kong. I am delighted to learn that the Foundation has supported five meaningful projects in the areas of education, heritage and music, four of which will be further explained later this evening. Furthermore, the Foundation has also been a strategic partner in Hong Kong’s philanthropic initiative Impact Link, or iLink in short, which is being championed by the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy.
 
     The iLink is an excellent example of public-private philanthropy partnerships, whereby private foundations as strategic partners are brought together by the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government in pursuit of the common good. It also serves as a platform for nurturing the next generation of philanthropists and fostering meaningful collaborations that drive social change.
 
     With the unfailing support from the Foundation and other strategic partners, capacity-building seminars and workshops under iLink have helped families initiate their first steps towards philanthropy and allowed them to acquire best practices from leading philanthropy organisations. Looking ahead, the iLink’s depository platform will be launched this year, which will provide a dedicated platform for invited family philanthropists to discover scalable initiatives that address critical challenges in Hong Kong and beyond. Strategic partners, family partners and projects nominated, including those nominated by the Foundation, will be displayed on the platform. We would continue to count on the thought leadership of the Foundation in promoting the exceptional qualities of Hong Kong in supporting philanthropic causes.
 
     In closing, may I commend Fondation de France Asia again for your contribution to Hong Kong. I wish the Foundation enormous success in all its endeavours, whether in Hong Kong, Asia or other parts of the world. For everyone here, may I wish you good health and joyful donation. Thank you very much.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 MAY 2025 4:41PM by PIB Delhi

Particulars	Wireless	Wireline	Total (Wireless+ Wireline)
Broadband Subscribers (Million)	902.74*	41.39	944.12
Urban Telephone Subscribers (Million)	632.57*	33.54	666.11
Net Addition in March, 2025 (Million)	-1.64	-0.39	-2.03
Monthly Growth Rate	-0.26%	-1.15%	-0.30%
Rural Telephone Subscribers (Million)	531.18*	3.50	534.69
Net Addition in March, 2025 (Million)	4.86	0.52	5.38
Monthly Growth Rate	0.92%	17.59%	1.02%
Total Telephone Subscribers (Million)	1163.76*	37.04	1200.80
Net Addition in March, 2025 (Million)	3.21	0.13	3.35
Monthly Growth Rate	0.28%	0.37%	0.28%
Overall Tele-density@(%)	82.42%	2.62%	85.04%
Urban Tele-density@(%)	124.83%	6.62%	131.45%
Rural Tele-density@(%)	58.67%	0.39%	59.06%
Share of Urban Subscribers	54.36%	90.55%	55.47%
Share of Rural Subscribers	45.64%	9.45%	44.53%

 

• In the month of March 2025, 13.54 million subscribers submitted their requests for Mobile Number Portability (MNP). With this, the cumulative MNP requests increased from 1105.39 million at the end of February-25 to 1118.94 million at the end of March-25, since implementation of MNP.
• Number of active wireless (Mobile) subscribers (on the date of peak VLR^#) in March 2025 was 1074.21 million.

Note:

1. ^*   Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also. 
2. @ Based on the projection of population from the ‘Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011 – 2036’.   
3. # VLR is acronym of Visitor Location Register. The dates of peak VLR for various TSPs are different in different service areas.
4. The information in this Press Release is based on the data provided by the Service Providers.

1. Broadband Subscribers

• As per the information received from 1206 operators in March 2025, in comparison to 1189 operators in February 2025, the total Broadband Subscribers increased from 944.04 million at the end of February-25 to 944.12 million at the end of March-25 with a monthly growth rate of 0.009%. Segment-wise broadband subscribers and their monthly growth rates are as below: –

Segment–wise Broadband Subscribers and Monthly Growth Rate in the month of March, 2025

Segment	Subscription	Subscribers (in million)		% Change
		Feb-25	Mar-25
Wired subscribers	Fixed (wired) Broadband (DSL, FTTx, Ethernet/LAN, Cable Modem, ILL)	41.20	41.39	0.44%
Wireless Subscribers	Fixed Wireless Broadband (FWA-5G, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Radio, Satellite)	4.89	4.89	0.16%
	Mobile Broadband (Handset/Dongle based)	897.95	897.84	-0.01%
Total Broadband Subscribers		944.04	944.12*	0.009%

 

  * This report is prepared considering the last reported (Nov 2024) internet subscription data submitted by M/s Reliance Jio Infocom Ltd. and M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd., as they did not submit the requisite data in the prescribed format for Dec-2024 and Jan, Feb & Mar-2025.

As on 31^st March 2025, top five Broadband

(Wired + Wireless) Service providers

S.N.	Name of the Service Provider	Subscriber base (In million)
	Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd	476.58*
	Bharti Airtel Ltd.	289.31*
	Vodafone Idea Ltd.	126.41
	Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.	34.57
	Atria Convergence Technologies Limited	2.29
Market Share of Top Five Broadband (Wired+Wireless)		98.41%

*As per reported data of Nov-24

• The graphical representation of the service provider-wise market share of broadband services is given below: –

Service Provider-wise Market Share of Broadband

(wired + wireless) Services as on 31^st March, 2025

As on 31^st March, 2025, Top Five Fixed (Wired) Broadband Service providers

S.N.	Name of the Service Provider	Subscriber base (In million)
	Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd	11.48*
	Bharti Airtel Ltd	8.55*
	Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd	4.34
	Atria Convergence Technologies Limited	2.29
	Kerala Vision Broadband Ltd	1.31
Market Share of Top Five Fixed (Wired) Broadband Service Providers		67.57%

*As per reported data of Nov-24

As on 31^st March, 2025, top five Wireless (Fixed wireless & mobile) Broadband Service providers

S.N.	Name of the Service Provider	Subscriber base (In million)
	Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd	465.10*
	Bharti Airtel Ltd	280.76*
	Vodafone Idea Ltd	126.40
	Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd	30.23
	IBus Virtual Network Services Private Limited	0.09
Market Share of Top Five Wireless Broadband Service Providers		99.98%

^*As per reported data of Nov-24

2. Wireline Subscribers

• Wireline subscribers increased from 36.91 million at the end of February-25 to 37.04 million at the end of March-25. Net increase in the wireline subscriber base was 0.13 million with a monthly rate of growth 0.37%.
• The Overall wireline Tele-density in India remained same i.e. 2.62% at the end of March-25 which was at the of February-25. Urban and Rural Wireline Tele-density were 6.62% and 0.39%, respectively, during the same period.  The share of urban and rural subscribers in total wireline subscribers were 90.55% and 9.45% respectively at the end of March, 2025.
• BSNL, MTNL, and APSFL, the three PSUs access service providers, held 27.87% of the wireline market share as on 31^st March 2025. Detailed statistics of the Wireline subscriber base are available at Annexure-I.

 

Access Service Provider-wise Market Share of wireline Subscribers

as on 31^st March, 2025

Access Service Provider-wise Net Addition/Decline in wireline Subscribers during the month of March, 2025

3. Wireless (Mobile+5G FWA) Subscribers

 

• Total wireless (mobile+5G-FWA) subscribers increased from 1,160.33 million at the end of February-25 to 1,163.76 million at the end of March-25, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.28%. Total Wireless subscription in urban areas decreased from 634 million on February-25 to 632.57 million on March-25 and the subscription in rural areas also increased from 526.33 million to 531.18 million during the same period. The monthly growth rate of urban and rural wireless subscriptions was  -0.26% and 0.92%, respectively.

• The Wireless Tele-density in India increased from 82.23% at the end of Feb-25 to 82.42% at the end of Mar-25. The Urban Wireless Tele-density decreased from 125.30% at the end of Feb-25 to 124.83% at the end of Mar-25 however, the Rural Tele-density increased from 58.16% to 58.67% during the same period. The share of urban and rural wireless subscribers in the total number of wireless subscribers was 54.36% and 45.64%, respectively, at the end of March-25.

• The details of Wireless (mobile) and Wireless (5G FWA) subscribers are detailed below: –

 

(A) Wireless (Mobile) subscriber

 

• Total wireless (Mobile) subscribers increased from 1,154.05 million at the end of Feb-25 to 1,156.99 million at the end of Mar-25, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.25%. Wireless (Mobile) subscription in urban areas increased from 627.94 million at the end of Feb-25 to 628.31 million at the end of Mar-25 and wireless (Mobile) subscription in rural areas also increased from 526.11 million to 528.68 million during the same period. Monthly growth rate of urban and rural wireless (Mobile) subscription was 0.06% and 0.49% respectively.

         

• The Wireless (Mobile) Tele-density in India increased from 81.79% at the end of Feb-25 to 81.94% at the end of Mar-25. The Urban Wireless Tele-density decreased from 124.10% at the end of Feb-25 to 123.99% at the end of Mar-25 however Rural Tele-density increased from 58.13% to 58.40% during the same period. The share of urban and rural wireless (Mobile) subscribers in total number of wireless (Mobile) subscribers was 54.31% and 45.69% respectively at the end of March 2025. Detailed statistics of wireless (Mobile) subscriber base is available at Annexure-II.

•      As on 31^st March 2025, the private access service providers held 92.04% market share of the wireless (Mobile) subscribers, whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU access service providers, had a market share of only 7.96%.

• The graphical representation of access service provider-wise market share and net additions in wireless (Mobile) subscriber base are given below: –

Access Service Provider-wise Market Shares in term of Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers as on 31^st March, 2025

Net Addition/ Decline in Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers of Access Service Providers in the month of March, 2025

Growth in Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers

Major Access Service Provider-wise Monthly Growth/ Decline Rate of Wireless Subscribers in the month of March, 2025

 

Service Area-wise Monthly Growth/ Decline Rate of Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers in the month of March, 2025

• Except Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Kolkata all other service areas have showed growth in their wireless (Mobile) subscribers during the month of March-25.

 (B) Wireless (5G FWA) subscribers

 

• Total wireless (5G FWA) subscribers increased from 6.27 million at the end of February-25 to 6.77 million at the end of March-25 with subscriptions in urban and rural areas of 4.26 million and 2.51 million, respectively

 

• The share of urban and rural wireless (5G FWA) subscribers in the total number of wireless (5G FWA) subscribers was 62.97% and 37.03%, respectively at the end of March, 2025. Detailed statistics of the wireless (5G FWA) subscriber base is available at Annexure-V

4. M2M cellular mobile connections

                          Number of M2M cellular mobile connections increased from 64.71 million at the end of February-25 to 66.54 million at the end of March-25.

 

     Bharti Airtel Limited has the highest number of M2M cellular mobile connections 34.82 million with a market share of 52.32% followed by Vodafone idea Limited, Reliance Jio Infocom Limited and BSNL with market share of 24.39%, 18.25% and 5.04% respectively.

5.  Total Telephone Subscribers

• The number of total telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,197.23 million at the end of Feb-25 to 1,200.80 million at the end of Mar-25, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.28%. Urban telephone subscription decreased from 667.93 million at the end of Feb-25 to 666.11 million at the end of Mar-25 however the rural subscription increased from 529.31 million to 534.69 million during the same period. The monthly growth rates of urban and rural telephone subscription were -0.30% and   1.02% respectively during the month of March, 2025.  

• The overall Tele-density in India increased from 84.85% at the end of Feb-25 to 85.04% at the end of Mar-25. The Urban Tele-density decreased from 132.01% at the end of Feb-25 to 131.45% at the end of Mar-25 however Rural Tele-density increased from 58.48% to 59.06% during the same period. The share of urban and rural subscribers in total number of telephone subscribers at the end of March-25 were 55.47% and 44.53% respectively.

Overall Tele-density (LSA Wise) – As on 31^st March, 2025

• As may be seen in the above chart, eight LSA have less tele-density than the all-India average tele-density at the end of March-25. Delhi service area has maximum tele-density of 275.79% and the Bihar service area has minimum tele-density of 57.23% at the end of March-25.

Notes: –

1. Population data/projections are available state wise only.
2. Tele-density figures are derived from the telephone subscriber data provided by the access service providers and the projection of population from the “Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011 – 2036.
3. Telephone subscriber data for Delhi, includes, apart from the data for the State of Delhi, wireless subscriber data for the areas served by the local exchanges of Ghaziabad & Noida (in Uttar Pradesh) and Gurgaon & Faridabad (in Haryana).
4. Data/information for West Bengal includes Kolkata, Maharashtra includes Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh includes UPE & UPW service area(s).
5. Data/information for Andhra Pradesh includes Telengana, Madhya Pradesh includes Chhatishgarh, Bihar includes Jharkhand, Maharashtra includes Goa, Uttar Pradesh includes Uttarakhand, West Bengal includes Sikkim and North-East includes Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland & Tripura States.

 

6. Category-wise Growth in subscriber base

Circle Category-wise Net Additions in Telephone Subscribers in the month March, 2025          

Circle Category	Net additions in the month of March, 2025		Telephone Subscriber base as on 31st March, 2025
	Wireline segment	Wireless* segment	Wireline segment	Wireless* segment
Circle A	61442	161244	14568246	386538167
Circle B	63707	1110993	10199907	471472982
Circle C	17156	1470149	2946671	192267604
Metro	-7369	469123	9325910	113476417
All India	134936	3211509	37040734	1163755170

          *Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also

Circle Category-wise monthly and yearly Growth Rates in Telephone Subscribers in the month of March, 2025

*Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also

Note:  Circle Category-Metro includes Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Data for Chennai has been included in Circle Category-A, as part of TamilNadu.

 

• As can be seen in the above tables, in the wireless segment, during the month of March 2025, on monthly basis, all circles have registered  growth rate in their subscriber base. On a yearly basis, except Circle ‘C’, all other circles have registered a decline in their subscriber base.
•  In the Wireline segment, during the month of March 2025, on monthly basis, except Circle ‘Metro’, all other circles have registered growth in their subscriber base. On yearly basis, all circles have registered growth in their subscriber.

Annexure IV

VLR Subscribers in the Wireless Segment

 

Home Location Register (HLR) is a central database that contains details of each mobile phone subscriber that is authorized to use the GSM core network. The HLRs store details of every SIM card issued by the service provider. Each SIM has a unique identifier called an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), which is the primary key to each HLR record. The HLR data is stored for as long as a subscriber remains with the service provider. HLR also manages the mobility of subscribers by means of updating their position in administrative areas. It sends the subscriber data to a Visitor Location Register (VLR).

Subscriber numbers reported by the service providers is the difference between the numbers of IMSI registered in service provider’s HLR and sum of other figures as given below: –

 

1	Total IMSI’s in HLR (A)
2	Less: (B = a + b + c + d + e)
a.	Test/Service Cards
b.	Employees
c.	Stock in hand/in Distribution Channels (Active Card)
d.	Subscriber Retention period expired
e.	Service suspended pending disconnection
3	Subscribers Base (A-B)

Visitor Location Register (VLR) is a temporary database of the subscribers who have roamed into the particular area, which it serves. Each base station in the network is served by exactly one VLR; hence a subscriber cannot be present in more than one VLR at a time.

If subscriber is in active stage i.e. he is able to send/receive calls/SMSs he is available both in HLR and VLR. However, it may be possible that the subscriber is registered in HLR but not in VLR due to the reason that he is either switched-off or moved out of coverage area, not reachable etc. In such circumstances he will be available in HLR but not in VLR. This causes difference between subscriber number reported by the service providers based on HLR and numbers available in VLR.

The VLR subscriber data calculated here is based on active subscribers in VLR on the date of Peak subscriber number in VLR of the particular month for which the data is being collected. This data is to be taken from the switches having the purge time of not more than 72 hours.

***

Samrat

(Release ID: 2127534) Visitor Counter : 28

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region