Boosted by a major contribution from the private mobile telephony sector, India's tele-density touched 7.67 per cent with the addition of over 64 lakh (6.4 million) telephones in the April-July period taking the total number of phones to 8.29 crore (82.9 million).
Over 19 lakh (1.9 million) phones were added during July alone, an official statement said on Thursday.
More than 90 per cent of the additional phones during the current year are accounted for by the mobile phones. The number of mobile phones including WLL(M) as on July end is about 3.95 crore (39.5 million).
Private sector has played a major role by providing almost 85 per cent of the expansion during these four months.
The private sector has so far provided 3.54 crore phones as ended July contributing 43 per cent in the total phones in the country.
However, in the rural areas, only Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has provided additional direct exchange lines and village public telephonys.
As against 54,015 additional telephones provided in rural areas during April-July 2003, BSNL has provided 1.75 lakh (175,000) telephones during the current year and 972 VPTs. The private sector reportedly has not gone to the rural areas this year.