Uninor second fastest growing telecom company for 2011 in Guj

Adds 1.6 million subscribers after Vodafone's 1.96 mn

Even while it was embroiled in the 2G license auction scam, Uninor was the second fastest growing telecom operator in Gujarat in terms of new subscriber additions, after Vodafone. While Vodafone added 1.96 million subscribers, Uninor, the joint venture between Unitech and Norwegian telecom major Telenor, saw 1.60 million new subscriber additions.

In fact, despite its license being cancelled by the Supreme Court recently, Uninor saw 400,000 new subscribers joining the operator in Gujarat, the highest in the month of February. The telecom operator has 3.8 million subscribers in Gujarat.

"We have been one of the fastest growing operators in Gujarat because of our focus on the mass market. Competition has always delivered affordable tariffs and better quality services for Indian customers. A customer in Delhi on Thursday pays upto 60 per cent higher tariffs for the same services as compared to a customer in Gujarat. Hence, our competitive tariffs have attracted many subscribers," said Sigve Brekke, managing director of Uninor.

Nationally, the telecom operator added the maximum number of subscribers in 2011. Uninor added 2.34 million subscribers in the month of February 2012, taking its total user base to 41.14 million.

While it covers about 50 per cent of Gujarat in terms of coverage, Uninor looks to expand the same in the near future. The telecom operator is also looking to strengthen its coverage in rural areas, said Brekke.

"About 60 per cent of our 3.8 million subscribers in Gujarat are in the urban areas. We look to bring a balance in rural and urban areas. Currently we have an eight per cent market share in Gujarat which we are looking to take up to 10 per cent soon," Brekke added.