Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released its November 2022 report on the Telecom Subscription Data. We are closely following the wireless subscriber numbers, and Vodafone idea (Vi) has already crossed its one-year subscriber losing streak. However, we gathered even the historical data to see further how long this subscriber losing streak is in force. We have our results, and here are some interesting insights.
Vodafone Idea Vi Records Continuous Subscriber loss for Nearly 2 Years Now
Sl. No
Month
Wireless Subscribers
Gain or Loss
VLR %
Active Wireless Subscriber Dip or Gain
1
Apr 2021
281,902,977
-1,810,610
89.97
-2.08 M
2
May 2021
277,621,445
-4,281,532
88.82
-7.04 M
3
Jun 2021
273,331,926
-4,289,519
88.43
-4.88 M
4
Jul 2021
271,901,681
-1,430,245
87.67
-3.33 M
5
Aug 2021
271,068,132
-833,549
87.24
-1.9 M
6
Sep 2021
269,990,327
-1,077,805
87.31
-.75 M
7
Oct 2021
269,026,082
-964,245
87.1
-1.41 M
8
Nov 2021
267,129,032
-1,897,050
86.69
-2.75 M
9
Dec 2021
265,514,322
-1,614,710
86.42
-2.12 M
10
Jan 2022
265,125,240
-389,082
86.3
-.65 M
11
Feb 2022
263,593,051
-1,532,189
85.7
-2.9 M
12
Mar 2022
260,774,732
-2,818,319
86.7
.19 M
13
Apr 2022
259,206,066
-1,568,666
85.77
-3.77 M
14
May 2022
258,446,808
-759,258
85.14
-2.28 M
15
Jun 2022
256,645,622
-1,801,186
85.2
-1.38 M
16
Jul 2022
255,102,703
-1,542,919
85.03
-1.75 M
17
Aug 2022
253,144,350
-1,958,353
84.65
-2.63 M
18
Sep 2022
249,132,806
-4,011,544
85.17
-2.1 M
19
Oct 2022
245,623,140
-3,509,666
86.2
-.46 M
20
Nov 2022
243,795,941
-1,827,199
86.02
-2.01 M
From 281,902,977 wireless subscribers in April 2021 to 243,795,941 wireless subscribers in November 2022 with a VLR of 86.02 per cent, Vodafone has come a long way and losing subscribers is nothing new for the telco. However, if we look at the Monthly Active Subscriber base number dips, the numbers are not good either. Overall, Vodafone Idea has recorded a milestone of 20 continuous months of wireless subscriber loss.
Vodafone Idea (Vi) Wireless Subscribers for November 2022
Sl. No
Circle – Vodafone Idea
Oct 2022
Nov 2022
Subscriber Gain or Loss
1
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
12,300,968
12,189,800
-111,168
2
Assam
2,203,229
2,169,994
-33,235
3
Bihar
9,700,393
9,533,826
-166,567
4
Delhi
16,668,651
16,773,385
104,734
5
Gujarat
22,971,933
22,802,688
-169,245
6
Haryana
7,633,531
7,567,239
-66,292
7
Himachal Pradesh
510,985
505,671
-5,314
8
Jammu & Kashmir
408,684
399,193
-9,491
9
Karnataka
7,636,633
7,748,135
111,502
10
Kerala
14,878,749
14,775,767
-102,982
11
Kolkata
5,947,569
5,929,730
-17,839
12
Madhya Pradesh
17,867,798
17,630,923
-236,875
13
Maharashtra & Goa
25,785,346
25,224,424
-560,922
14
Mumbai
11,515,155
11,433,688
-81,467
15
North East
1,004,679
990,057
-14,622
16
Odisha
1,645,826
1,653,617
7,791
17
Punjab
7,544,015
7,467,094
-76,921
18
Rajasthan
10,400,783
10,349,423
-51,360
19
Tamil Nadu
17,221,976
17,288,073
66,097
20
Uttar Pradesh East
19,331,519
19,299,489
-32,030
21
Uttar Pradesh West
17,532,134
17,259,455
-272,679
22
West Bengal
14,912,584
14,804,270
-108,314
Total
245,623,140
243,795,941
Net Addition
-3,509,666
-1,827,199
Rural Subscribers
121,161,494
119,796,159
If we look at the November 2022 wireless subscriber numbers, except for Delhi, Karnataka, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, Vi lost wireless subscribers in all other circles. Its priority circle, Kerala, too, lost subscribers. Although Vi talks about Rural subscribers, the telco is losing rural subscribers too if we look at the numbers for more than a year now.
Recent Developments with Vodafone Idea
From what we can infer from the tariff plans and actions, though the company management talks about Tariff correction in various instances, the telco doesn’t walk the talk.
Equity Conversion
The Government clears the equity conversion of Vodafone Idea dues on Friday, making the Government the single largest shareholder of the telco with a 33% stake in the company. The total amount to be converted into equity shares is Rs. 16,133,18,48,990. Accordingly, the company has been directed to issue 1613,31,84,899 equity shares of the face value of Rs. 10 each at an issue price of Rs. 10 each.
If we look at the development, the dues which Vi needs to pay are converted as equity and given to Government. This doesn’t mean anything to the company to benefit largely as the telco needs cash to operate. With a quarterly loss of thousands of crores and losing subscribers Month on Month, it needs to be seen if Vi can bring some investors on board. Even if Vi is able to bring some investors, one thing is sure that with the current tariffs losses will continue. So, what is the plan that Vi has to make profits and recover the old losses, pay interests is something highly imaginary. Even if done so, at what tariffs?
With No 5G announcements as of date, Poor Service quality (from what we experience daily), and Free Data benefits to inactive users (users who are not on any active recharge plan), it needs to be seen what’s the road ahead for the telco.
Vodafone idea is close to 2 years of wireless subscriber losing streak (precisely 20 months now). Its subscribers are leaving it irrespective of its lucrative offerings in the market. No Telco in India is offering the kind of benefits Vi is offering customers, but still, the telco is losing subscribers Month on Month, showing the state of service quality. With the Government approving Equity conversion now, It needs to be seen how things pan out. Only time will tell what’s the road ahead for Vodafone Idea.
Note: Manual work is involved, and care is taken to avoid any errors. Please report in case of any corrections.
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