BSNL to add 17 mln GSM, 2 mln CDMA subscribers by fiscal-end

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd today said it expects to add 17 million GSM subscribers and two million CDMA subscribers by the end of this fiscal.

''We will add 17 million GSM subscribers and two million CDMA subscribers by the end of this fiscal,'' BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal told reporters here on the sidelines of BSNL's Integrity Pact program.

BSNL adds about 5-7 lakh new users every month, which is very low compared to private operators who are adding over 1.5 million new mobile subscribers every month.

BSNL, which has more than 20 million cellular subscribers, is expanding its network reach and capacity to meet soaring demand and compete with private-sector rivals such as Bharti.

It has a market share of 18.82 per cent and added over seven million customers to its network, reaching a total of 36 million subscribers.

India's cellular market is growing by about eight million subscribers a month and totals more than 200 million customers, making it the world's fastest expanding wireless market.

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