**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Communications' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2941, answered on August 6, 2025, regarding telephone connections in the country. The response, provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, addresses the number of telephone connections sanctioned and issued over the preceding three years, the current waiting list for connections, and steps taken to eliminate any waiting list.
Key data points from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) indicate the total number of telephone subscribers in India (in millions) as of:
* March 31, 2022: 1166.93
* March 31, 2023: 1172.34
* March 31, 2024: 1199.28
* March 31, 2025: 1200.80
* June 30, 2025: 1218.36
The Ministry reports that there is no waiting list for telephone connections, as connections are available on demand. Therefore, no specific steps have been taken to address a waiting list.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for communications.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications responsible for telecommunications policy and regulation in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR: Member of Parliament who raised the question about telephone connections.
Minister of COMMUNICATION: The minister responsible for the Ministry of Communications.
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Minister of State responsible for Communications and Rural Development
DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR: Name of the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development answering the question.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: The regulatory body for the telecommunications sector in India, and the source of data for telephone connections.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2941
ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
NUMBER OF TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS
†2941. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the number of telephone connections which have been sanctioned in the Country during the
last three years as on date;
(b) the number of telephone connections which have been issued;
(c) the waiting list for telephone connections during the current year; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to bring the waiting list to an end?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) & (b) Total telephone subscribers in the country for the last three years as on date is as
follows:
Period Total telephone connections (million)
ending
31.03.2022 1166.93
31.03.2023 1172.34
31.03.2024 1199.28
31.03.2025 1200.80
30.06.2025 1218.36
Source: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(c) There is no waiting list as telephone connections are available on demand.
(d) Question does not arise in view of reply to (c) above.
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