10.2. Tele-Density

Tele-density, which shows the number of telephones per 100 people, is an important indicator of telecom penetration in the country.

The mobile segment’s tele-density surged from 14.6 per cent in FY07 to 86.25 per cent in FY17. In FY16, urban wireless tele-density stood at 148.73 while rural wireless tele-density stood at

50.88. There are over 62,443 uncovered villages in India; these would be provided with village telephone facility with subsidy support from the government’s Universal Service Obligation Fund (thereby increasing rural tele-density).