Airtel aims at bigger market share

Having added the largest number of subscribers in 2004 in the Gujarat circle, Bharti Cellular now aims at a dominant position in the cellular market of the state.

"We have just completed replacing the exchange with the best technology available today and the switch and the BTS too has been replaced. A new switch at Rajkot is being started in the next few days," said Atul Joshi, chief operating officer, Airtel Gujarat, in Ahmedabad, without disclosing the amount spent on these technology upgradation.

Commenting on the strong performance that Airtel registered in 2004, where it added about four lakh new subscribers, Joshi stated that Bharti Cellular focused on fundamental issues and was the first to introduce advanced rental plans, hello tunes, missed call alerts and an array of recharge vouchers.

"We expect the Gujarat GSM market to grow at around 40 per cent this year too and Airtel is expected to continue at the pace that it is growing at in the state," Joshi said.

The Airtel Gujarat COO said that about 95 per cent of the landscape in Gujarat has already been covered under the network.

"Aitrel has covered all the rail tracks, highways and towns. But continuing our plan, Airtel will go deeper and wider in the state," Atul Joshi said.

In what is a concerted effort to target the business community, corporates and investors, the company has set out to extend its reach among these sections.

"We have recognised one basic thing and that is economy and business is the DNA of Gujarat. Having launched the blackberry and then the stock ticker on mobiles, Airtel aims at providing information in real time to investors and the business community. Some of the corporates that have Airtel connections include GNFC, Gujarat Ambuja, Rasna, Arvind Mills, Adani Exports and others.

Havign a subscriber base of around 1.5 lakh at the end of the calendar year 2003, Airtel has registered an impressive growth and as of February 2005, its subscriber base has crossed the five lakh mark.

Joshi said that in the calendar year 2004, Airtel had the highest number of new subscribers despite being the latest entrant in Gujarat's GSM cellular market.