Maharashtra is home to most Internet subscribers in India: Survey

The state’s economic survey that was recently presented to the legislature revealed some interesting figures plotting just how Maharashtra is faring; and there is something that should prompt us to sit back and smile. According to the survey, Maharashtra has emerged as the topper, as far as the number of Internet subscribers in the country is concerned. The state, according to the survey report emerged as the topper with the largest Internet (of less than 256 kbps) subscriber base of 14.93 lakh and broadband (of greater than or equal to 256 kbps) subscriber base of 22.88 lakh in India, as on March 31, 2011. According to reports, the survey further pointed out that mobile number portability, too has been doing exceptionally well in the state. Maharashtra, in general and Mumbai, in particular has been seeing a steadfast increase in the number of porting requests. By the end of December 2011, roughly 33.36 lakh subscribers in the state opted for mobile number portability and subsequently submitted their porting requests, 10.23 lakh requests, out of which came from Mumbai alone.

Home to most Internet subscribers in the country! (Image credit: Getty Images)

The report states that the communications segment in the country has been flying high, owing to the immense contribution coming from the private sector. Reportedly, in Maharashtra, private sector operators, alone managed to hold onto 91.7 percent of wireless market share. PSU operators, BSNL and MTNL collectively hold over 8.3 percent  of the market share. The survey, further acknowledges the latest entrants in the telecom space - 3G services and MNP. Cell phone and landline connections, too have been doing well for themselves in the state with the cell phone users per lakh population at the end of December 2011 being 94,181, while total number of landline connections at the end of December 2011 was 56.69 lakh.

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