Mobile subscriber additions muted in Apr due to Covid lockdown: Analysts

The telecom sector's mobile subscriber net additions moderated to about 2.2 million (22 lakh) in April this year, with analysts blaming the 'muted' numbers on the second wave of COVID and lockdowns.

After a strong fourth quarter of 2020-21, where the industry added 27.2 million subscribers, April was a "weak month" with only 2.2 million net additions, UBS said in its report on Tuesday.

"We attribute this to the beginning of the second wave of COVID," a UBS note said.

As per data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Bharti Airtel added only 0.5 million (5 lakh) subscribers in April, against 4.8 million net additions by larger rival Reliance Jio.

Troubled Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) shed 1.8 million subscribers in April after showing some improving momentum in February and March.

While Jefferies' report observed that the sector's reported subscriber additions had "moderated" to 2 million due to lockdowns, a note by ICICI Securities said user addition had slowed on .