Mr A. Raja, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, today informed that the telecom sector has reached 250 million subscribers three months ahead of the target date as it has been adding more than seven million subscribers every month.

The target set by the department of 15% tele-density by 2010 was achieved in September 2006 itself, four years in advance. The gross number of telephones by the end September 2007 was 248.66 million as compared to 241.02 million in August 2007. The overall tele-density reached 21.85% in September 2007 as against 21.20% in August 2007.

As for the wireless segment there was a fall in subscription and it accounted for 7.80 million subscription in September 2007 as against 8.31 million subscription in August 2007. In the wire-line segment, the subscriber base decreased to 39.58 million in September 2007 as against 39.73 million subscribers in August 2007. The total wireless subscribers (GSM, CDMA & WLL(F)) base reached 209.08 million at September end.

During April-September of 2007, 42.80 million total phone subscribers have been added as compared to 29.70 million during the corresponding period in the previous year.

Noticing this incredible rise in figures Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said that with the addition of 7.64 million phone connections in September, the 500 million target by 2010 appear modest.