Punjab added 2.5 mn subscribers last fiscal

In terms of subscriber growth, leading the pack is state-owned BSNL (70.9 per cent), followed by Vodafone (41.2 per cent), Spice (34.6 per cent) and Airtel (22.3 per cent). CDMA operators have added more than 800,000 subscribers (including Wireline, Wireline fixed and Digital Mobile) during the same period.

Airtel, Spice Communication, BSNL and Vodafone Essar are the four GSM players operating in the state and three CDMA players include Reliance, Tata Teleservices and HFCL Connect.

HFCL Connect plans to roll out its GSM services and will be the fifth player in the GSM segment in the state. It has received the licence to start GSM services.

According to COAI figures upto March 2008, the state's GSM subscriber base increased to 93,32,430 from 68,09,284 in March 2007. Thus the state has added 25,23,146 new subscribers during the period.

Till March 2008, Airtel had a subscriber base of 31,81,852, Spice (25,74,118), BSNL (19,30,959) and Hutch (16,45,501).

The data submitted (including Wireline, Wireline fixed and Digital Mobile) to Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) by the CDMA operators, upto March 2008, Reliance has a subscriber base of 10,83,566, Tata Teleservices (9,59,930) and HFCL (4,46,404).

Cellular telephony in the state was started in June 1997 by Spice Communication followed by Airtel (February, 2002), BSNL and Hutch.

It is worth noting that Punjab has highest tele-density of about 47 per cent as compared to the national average of 20 per cent. While one out of every five Indian has a telephone (fixed and mobile combined) nationally, the figure in the state one out of two, with majority of them being mobile users.

The preferred technology among mobile users is GSM with more than 70 per cent mobile users opting for it.

In order to further increase presence, the cellular companies are investing in network and infrastructure. Recently, Spice Communications launched its Handset Combo offer (for Rs 599 only) for the rural masses.

With the launch of Handset Combo offer with a unique handset & a Spice Connection in Punjab, it aims to increase the mobile penetration in rural areas to over 50 per cent from 20 per cent.