Cellular subscribers in Gujarat rise 3% to 22 lakh in May

The number of GSM cellular subscribers in Gujarat increased by close to three per cent to 22 lakh in May 2004. Hutch, which crossed the one million subscriber mark last month, remained the market leader with a 46 per cent share.

According to Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) figures, the Hutch subscriber base in Gujarat stood at 10.10 lakh. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) was second with a subscriber base of 4.82 lakh, followed by Idea with 4.45 lakh and Airtel with 2.57 lakh.

While Hutch garnered 45 per cent of all new connections in May, with over 25,000 new subscribers, BSNL managed to add just 128 new connections during the month owing to its capacity limitations.

Idea and Airtel have accounted for the remaining 55 per cent share "" Idea's subscriber base rose by around 20,000 and Airtel added another 12,000-odd customers in May.

Meanwhile, all major cellular operators in the state have chalked out ambitious plans for the coming year.

Hutch Gujarat has announced that it will increase its cell sites by 33 per cent to cover highways, rail routes and congregation points like pilgrimage and tourists centres.

It will also add to its 650 recharge zones across the state and will extend the concept of Hutch mobile shops to upcountry locations across the state.

Idea Cellular has also added a string of IdeaShops across Gujarat, taking the total number of customer care centres to 150. These shops offer a range of services, including payment of bills. The IdeaShop network now covers 68 towns and cities in Gujarat.

Airtel has chalked out a Rs 150 crore plan to strengthen its network across the state, including highways and remote areas. With a subscriber base of around 1.50 lakh at the end of the calendar year 2003, Airtel aims to cross the three lakh mark by the end of the current year.

BSNL has replaced Lucent Technologies with Alcatel India for upgrading its cellular service network in Gujarat. Having spent over Rs 200 crore to set up its existing cellular network in Gujarat, BSNL will invest another Rs 200 crore over the next six months to expand its network.