Public Telephone Booths in India Face Decline: Nearly 45,000 Shut Down Over Three Years

Public telephone booths, also known as PCOs, have seen a significant decline in numbers over the past three years, with 44,922 shutting down. Despite this, approximately 17,000 remain operational across India. This information was shared with Parliament on Wednesday by Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar.

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Impact of Mobile Technology on PCOs

The reduction in PCOs is largely due to the widespread use of mobile phones. The increase in tele density and affordable mobile tariffs have made public call offices less necessary. Minister Sekhar noted that this trend has been ongoing for some time, leading to the closure of many PCOs.

As of June 30, 2024, data shows that 16,958 PCOs are still functioning. Of these, 1,519 are located in rural areas while 15,439 are in urban regions. Maharashtra leads with the highest number of operational PCOs, having 4,314 in urban and 42 in rural areas.

State-wise Distribution of PCOs

Following Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu has 2,809 urban and 305 rural PCOs. Kerala maintains 1,529 booths in urban locations and 557 in rural ones. Telangana has 1,115 urban and 37 rural PCOs. Gujarat records 1,174 urban and 26 rural PCOs.

In contrast, other states have fewer than 1,000 operational PCOs. Some states have none at all. This highlights the uneven distribution and varying reliance on public telephone services across different regions.

The shift from public call offices to mobile technology reflects changing communication habits. As mobile phones become more accessible and affordable, the need for traditional phone booths continues to diminish across India.