Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appeal for information on missing man in Lantau North (with photo)
LAW Siu-hang, aged 70, went missing after he left his residence in Yat Tung Estate on May 2 morning. His family made a report to Police yesterday (May 7).
He is about 1.5 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long white hair, and with tattoos on his abdomen and arms. He was last seen wearing a blue vest jacket, apricot trousers and white flip flops.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9689 6212 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Issued at HKT 16:15
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Speech by SCED at 6G Global Summit 2025 (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Speech by SCED at 6G Global Summit 2025 (English only)
Mr Kondo (Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, Mr Masanori Kondo), Mr Macfarlane (Chief Executive Officer of Forum Global, Mr Bruce Macfarlane), distinguished guests, our friends and partners from the global telecommunications community, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is a great pleasure to welcome you all today at the 6G Global Summit 2025, hosted for the very first time here in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 6G Global Summit
This Summit marks a pivotal moment for the global telecommunications industry. While 5G has been a progressive step in the history of telecommunications development, delivering faster data speeds, lower latency, and wider coverage, the rapid pace of technological advancements compels us to think ahead and look beyond 5G, to prepare for the next transformative leap to 6G.
This is why we are all here today, thinking ahead of what 6G exactly is – the technology and standardisation; what 6G will bring about – the potentials and benefits, and how it will transform or even reform our industry and society; and when will it happen; as well as what we need to prepare for the underlying challenges, such as the sustainability and accessibility of the technology. In the next two days, with hundreds of experts and top industry leaders here, in person and online, I am sure that we would be able to come up with brilliant ideas through fruitful discussions and exchanges in this Summit, which will shape the future of connectivity for the years to come.
Hong Kong, a pioneer in telecommunications technology
Being able to host the 6G Global Summit for the first time ever in Hong Kong not only reflects our city’s long-standing stature as a global and regional telecommunications hub, it also underscores our commitment to driving innovation and fostering collaboration in this transformative field. Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the development of 6G.
Our city’s telecommunications market is one of the most advanced and dynamic in the world, with a proven track record of embracing innovation and driving connectivity. Allow me to share some highlights that showcase Hong Kong’s readiness to contribute to the global 6G journey. Since the full liberalisation of our telecommunications market in 2003, we have successfully created a level playing field that encourages competition, growth and innovation, enabling our citizens to enjoy a wide range of world-class telecommunications infrastructure and services. Hong Kong has already achieved territory-wide 5G coverage with about 8 million users, representing over 105 per cent of the population last year. Our 5G availability ranks first in the Asia-Pacific region. With our extensive network infrastructure, our fibre-to-the-home or building penetration rate is around 90 per cent, placing us in the top five globally according to a report issued by the Fibre to the Home Council Europe in March 2025. This robust infrastructure serves as a strong foundation for 6G deployment and reflects our ability to support cutting-edge applications and services. We also lead the world in mobile voice affordability, rank second globally in mobile broadband affordability and seventh in fixed broadband affordability, ensuring our telecommunications services are affordable and accessible to all. These achievements are not just about numbers; they also reflect our readiness to embrace the future of telecommunications.
HKSARG’s commitment to innovation and 6G development
Notwithstanding the above accomplishments, we will not be complacent or stop there. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) is fully committed to fostering a conducive environment that drives technological advancement and prepares us for the 6G era. In this regard, we are already planning ahead and taking concrete action to embrace 6G development. To name a few, we became the first city in the world to auction radio spectrum in the 6/7 GHz band last November, which is a critical step in preparing for the deployment of 6G mobile communications services, demonstrating our proactive approach to adopt and enable the next-generation technologies.
Our major mobile network operators in Hong Kong have already actively commenced testing and successfully validating 5G-Advanced, commonly known as 5.5G, network in various applications, for example, in large-scale drone shows, world class sport events, etc. Such technology allows us to create a smarter connected network, facilitate businesses in monitoring operations in real-time, share data more efficiently, and analyse collected images and information through advanced platforms.
We also see great potential in developing low-altitude economy, with its wide applicability in different areas and various industries, thereby injecting new impetus into Hong Kong’s economy. The success of this initiative requires sound infrastructure, particularly a comprehensive, stable and efficient communications network. As Hong Kong is well covered by 5G network and progressing into 5.5G as mentioned just now, the city is well-positioned to support this development. We are also proactively exploring further facilitation measures from a telecommunications perspective to support the development of low-altitude economy.
Beyond terrestrial networks, we see Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites as a game-changer in telecommunications. With their low latency, high transmission rates and cost efficiency, LEO satellites are transforming industries worldwide. To strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness in this field, the Government is conducting a study to streamline relevant licensing procedures for LEO satellites, with a view to attracting global operators, talent and investment to establish Hong Kong as a hub for satellite innovation. Recently, we have also seen exciting collaboration between LEO satellite operators and our mobile network operators on satellite-mobile connectivity. This is all happening in Hong Kong, and we welcome our partners from the Mainland and other parts of the world to join us in transforming new telecommunications technology into promising innovative applications that enhance the quality of life, thereby benefitting the general public as a whole.
We will spare no effort in continuing our betterment to create an ideal environment to embrace the 6G era. To turn excellence into perfection, achieving this vision will require collaboration on a global scale. Platforms like the 6G Global Summit are essential for uniting brilliant minds from around the world, fostering innovation, and collectively shaping the future of telecommunications.
Closing remarks
Today’s Summit is a testament to the critical role that collaboration plays in driving the future of telecommunications. As we gather here today, let us not forget the importance of collaboration. The development of 6G will require unprecedented partnerships, including governments, industries, academia, and organisations like those present here today must work hand in hand to ensure that 6G networks are inclusive, sustainable and transformative.
Hong Kong is proud to play a pivotal role in this transformative journey. Hosting this inaugural 6G Global Summit in the Asia-Pacific region reflects our city’s commitment to innovation and collaboration. It is through gatherings like this that we can spark bold ideas and partnerships to shape the future of connectivity for generations to come.
Today, we are honoured to welcome over 600 guests from around the globe. Your presence is the key to the success of the Summit. I hope you could also take a moment to enjoy what Hong Kong has to offer. Wishing you all a pleasant stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.
Issued at HKT 10:27
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Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen related to DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
Appeal judge named
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Executive John Lee has accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (JORC) that William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young be appointed as a non-permanent Court of Final Appeal judge.
Subject to the Legislative Council’s endorsement, the Chief Executive will make the appointment under Article 88 of the Basic Law and section 9 of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance.
Mr Lee announced that he is pleased to accept the JORC’s recommendation, noting that Mr Young retired from his role as a Permanent Judge of New Zealand’s Supreme Court, that country’s final court of appeal, in April 2022.
“He is a judge of eminent standing and reputation,” the Chief Executive said. “I am confident that he will contribute substantively to the Court of Final Appeal.”
Mr Lee highlighted that with Mr Young’s appointment, the panel of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions will consist of six eminent judges from the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
“The presence of these esteemed overseas jurists as non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal is a manifestation of the independence of the Judiciary in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as protected by the Basic Law.
“Their participation demonstrates a high degree of confidence in the Hong Kong SAR’s judicial system, and enables Hong Kong to maintain strong links with other common law jurisdictions.”
The Chief Executive expressed confidence that distinguished jurists bringing profound judicial experience from overseas will remain a unique strength of Hong Kong’s judicial system.
Article 90 of the Basic Law and section 7A of the ordinance provide that the Chief Executive shall obtain the endorsement of the Legislative Council on the appointment of Court of Final Appeal judges. The Government will seek such an endorsement in due course.
President Lai attends reception commemorating 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
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.
Trip will explore tech opportunities
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.
Algernon Yau heads to Beijing
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.
Arrests made in closed facilities case
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.
CE to seek Middle East opportunities
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.
Highlights of Telecom Subscription Data as on 31st March, 2025
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:
- * Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also.
- @ Based on the projection of population from the ‘Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011 – 2036’.
- # VLR is acronym of Visitor Location Register. The dates of peak VLR for various TSPs are different in different service areas.
- The information in this Press Release is based on the data provided by the Service Providers.
- 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 31st 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 31st March, 2025
As on 31st 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 31st 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
- 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 31st 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 31st March, 2025
Access Service Provider-wise Net Addition/Decline in wireline Subscribers during the month of March, 2025
- 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 31st 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 31st 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
- 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.
- 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 31st 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: –
- Population data/projections are available state wise only.
- 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.
- 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).
- Data/information for West Bengal includes Kolkata, Maharashtra includes Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh includes UPE & UPW service area(s).
- 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.
- 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
|
Circle Category |
Monthly growth rate (%) (February-25 to March-25) |
Yearly growth rate (%) (March-24 to March-25) |
||
|
Wireline Segment |
Wireless* Segment |
Wireline Segment |
Wireless* Segment |
|
|
Circle A |
0.42% |
0.04% |
10.69% |
-0.48% |
|
Circle B |
0.63% |
0.24% |
13.09% |
-0.41% |
|
Circle C |
0.59% |
0.77% |
11.88% |
1.74% |
|
Metro |
-0.08% |
0.42% |
3.88% |
-1.09% |
|
All India |
0.37% |
0.28% |
9.62% |
-0.15% |
*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.
|
- Out of the total 1156.99 million wireless subscribers, 1074.21 million wireless subscribers were active on the date of peak VLR in the month of March-25. The proportion of active wireless subscribers was approximately 92.85% of the total wireless subscriber base.
- The detailed statistics on proportion of active wireless subscribers (also referred to as VLR subscribers) on the date of peak VLR in the month of March-25 is available at Annexure-III and the methodology used for reporting VLR subscribers is available at Annexure-IV.
Access Service Provider-wise Percentage of VLR Subscribers
in the month of March, 2025
- Reliance Communication has the maximum proportion 100% of its active wireless subscribers (VLR) as against its total wireless subscribers (HLR) on the date of peak VLR in the month of March-25 and MTNL has the minimum proportion of VLR 48.07% of its HLR during the same period.
Service Area wise percentage of VLR Subscribers
in the month of March, 2025
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Intra-service area Mobile number portability (MNP) was implemented first in Haryana service area w.e.f. 25.11.2010 and in the rest of the country w.e.f. 20.01.2011. Inter-Service Area MNP has been implemented in the country w.e.f. 03.07.2015. Now, the wireless telephone subscribers can retain their mobile numbers when they relocate from one service area to another.
- During the month of March-25, a total of 13.54 million requests were received for MNP. Out of total 13.54 million, new requests received from Zone-I & Zone-II were 7.51 million and 6.03 million respectively. 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 the implementation of MNP.
- In MNP Zone-I (Northern and Western India), the highest number of requests till date have been received in Uttar Pradesh-East (about 111.89 million) followed by Maharashtra (about 90.87 million) service area.
- In MNP Zone-II (Southern and Eastern India), the highest number of requests till date have been received in Madhya Pradesh (about 88.41 million) followed by Karnataka (about 73.53 million).
|
Service Area Wise MNP Status |
|||||
|
Zone-I |
Zone–II |
||||
|
Service Area |
Number of Porting Requests (in Million) |
Service Area |
Number of Porting Requests (in Million) |
||
|
Feb-25 |
Mar-25 |
Feb-25 |
Mar-25 |
||
|
Delhi |
52.65 |
53.25 |
Andhra Pradesh |
72.06 |
72.69 |
|
Gujarat |
75.20 |
76.11 |
Assam |
8.09 |
8.20 |
|
Haryana |
34.79 |
35.19 |
Bihar |
63.84 |
64.93 |
|
Himachal Pradesh |
4.64 |
4.68 |
Karnataka |
72.96 |
73.53 |
|
Jammu & Kashmir |
3.17 |
3.23 |
Kerala |
26.11 |
26.34 |
|
Maharashtra |
89.94 |
90.87 |
Kolkata |
20.00 |
20.17 |
|
Mumbai |
35.98 |
36.23 |
Madhya Pradesh |
87.16 |
88.41 |
|
Punjab |
36.01 |
36.37 |
North East |
2.52 |
2.55 |
|
Rajasthan |
73.85 |
74.56 |
Odisha |
19.26 |
19.48 |
|
U.P.(East) |
110.02 |
111.89 |
Tamil Nadu |
68.67 |
69.33 |
|
U.P.(West) |
82.68 |
84.03 |
West Bengal |
65.79 |
66.88 |
|
Total |
598.92 |
606.43 |
Total |
506.48 |
512.51 |
|
Total (Zone-I + Zone-II) |
|
1,105.39 |
1,118.94 |
||
|
Net Addition (March, 2025) |
13.54 million |
||||
Contact details in case of any clarification: –
|
Shri Vijay Kumar, Advisor (F&EA), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India World Trade Centre, Tower-F, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi – 110029 Ph: 011-20907773 (D. Manoj) E-mail: advfea1@trai.gov.in Pr. Advisor (F&EA) |
Note: Peak VLR figures in some circles of some of the service providers are more than their HLR figures due to a large number of inroamers.
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.
***
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