11.2 per cent rise in revenues of GSM operators

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) Private GSM Mobile Operators have recorded a rise of 11.2 per cent in the revenues in the third quarter of the current financial year (October to December 05) but the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) generated for each customer unit has gone down.

Inspite of a rise in the Adjusted Gross Revenue, the private GSM industry has witnessed a fall in ARPU. The average industry ARPU has fallen from Rs 390 for June 05 quarter to Rs 375 for the September 05 quarter and further to Rs 370 for the quarter ending December 2005; a fall of Rs 20 per subscriber since June 05 (a decline of 5%).

Thus, although the revenues have risen consistently over the four quarters of the calendar year 2005, there has been a continuous decline in ARPU.

The Adjusted gross revenue has increased from Rs 4,010 crs for quarter ending September 05 to Rs 4,460 crs for the quarter ending December 05.

On a year on year basis, the third quarter of the current financial year (October to December 05) has witnessed a 39% rise in revenues as compared to the third quarter of the previous financial year (October to December 04), cellular operators said here oday.

The revenues of private GSM mobile operators have risen from Rs 3,207 crs for Oct to Dec. 04 quarter to Rs 4,460 crs for October to December 05 quarter, according to Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) figures.

UNI RT SB KN1805