New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS): The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 951.84 million at the end of August to 957.61 million at the end of September this year, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.61 percent, data released by the sector regulator said Thursday.

“The urban subscription increased from 566.60 million at the end of August, 2014 to 569.56 million at the end of September, 2014 and the rural subscription increased from 385.25 million to 388.05 million during the same period. The monthly growth rates of urban and rural subscription were 0.52 percent and 0.73 percent, respectively,” the data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India here said.

The overall tele-density in India increased from 76.36 at the end of August, 2014 to 76.75 at the end of September, 2014.

The total wireless subscriber base increased from 924.32 million at the end of August, 2014 to 930.20 million at the end of September, 2014, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.64 percent.

Wireline subscriber base declined from 27.52 million at the end of August, 2014 to 27.41 million at the end of September, 2014. Net reduction in the wireline subscriber base was 0.12 million at the monthly decline rate of 0.43 percent.

In the month of September, 2014, 3.26 million subscribers submitted requests for mobile number portability (MNP). With this, the cumulative MNP requests increased from 129.56 million at the end of August, 2014 to 132.81 million at the end of September, 2014, the report added.