GSM subscriber base increases 6.41 mln in July

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) GSM players have added 6.41 million new subscribers in the month of July, taking the total subscriber base to 21.8 million users.

The cumulative all India GSM subscriber base has now grown to 218.9 million in July, up from 212.1 million in the previous month, a growth of about 3.21 per cent, a Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) statement said here today.

Among all circles, Category B circles witnessed the highest rate of growth at nearly 3.31 per cent. Within the Category B circles, the highest growth was recorded by the Rajasthan at 5.46 per cent, followed by Uttar Preadesh (East) Circle at 3.58 per cent.

This was closely followed by Category A circles, which recorded a healthy growth of 3.10 per cent over the previous month. Andhra Pradesh Circle recorded the highest growth at 3.77 per cent followed by Tamil Nadu at 3.74 per cent.

Category C circles witnessed a growth of 2.87 per cent. Amongst the Category C circles, Bihar recorded highest growth at 4.35 per cent followed by Jammu and Kashmir at 3.27 per cent.

The subscribers in Metro grew by 2.24 per cent over the previous month, with Mumbai recording the highest growth at 2.97 per cent followed by Chennai and Delhi at 2.48 per cent.

Bharti Airtel added 2.69 million new customers in July 2008, while Vodafone Essar saw its subscriber base swell by 1.75 million new users.

Idea Cellular added 10.54 lakh new customers.

State-run BSNL added about 0.5 million new customers last month.

At the end of July, Bharti Airtel held a market share of 32.92 per cent with a total of 72.07 million customers, while Vodafone Essar had a market share of 23.27 per cent with 50.95 million users.

BSNL accounted for 17.32 per cent of the GSM market with 37.91 million customers and Idea held a market share of 12.9 per cent at 28.24 million.

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