Cellular base up 2.67%

The GSM cellular subscriber base saw a 2.67 per cent growth in April, with 1.09 million new connections over March. At the end of April, GSM customers totalled 42.12 million, up 55 per cent on year.

Cellular operators, however, said the growth in the number of mobile subscribers in the first four months of 2005 was disappointing.

TV Ramachandran, director general, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said: "We have been adding 1.3 million customers a month on average since January. This is almost 50 per cent below the expectations and the targets set by the industry. If we are to achieve 250 million connections by 2007, the growth should be double this figure. There are certain operational, regulatory and policy issues that have led to the slowdown. We hope that these will be addressed immediately."

According to figures released by COAI, an association representing the 9 GSM players in the country, Bharti Tele-Ventures continues to be the leading player, with a subscriber base of 11.39 million and a market share of 27.04 per cent, while state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd ranks second with 9.68 million customers and 23 per cent market share.

Hutch is the third largest player with a subscriber base of 7.96 million and a market share of 18.89 per cent, followed by IDEA, BPL and Aircel.

The metros witnessed marginal growth. While Delhi registered a growth of 1.77 per cent, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata recorded 1.88 per cent, 1.95 per cent and 1.84 per cent growth, respectively, over March's numbers.