Telecom service providers record 20 bn $ revenue in 2005-06

Bangalore, July 11 (UNI) Telecom service providers in the country posted revenues of about Rs 87,962 crore in 2005-06, up by 30 per cent over the previous year's earnings of Rs 67,523 crore.

The private players had contributed to 85 per cent of the growth (an increase of Rs 20,169 crore over FY 2004-05), according to the 11th annual survey of the Indian Communication Industry, carried out by Voice and Data magazine.

A release from the magazine said the private players narrowly missed overtaking the public players, who had contributed a total revenue of Rs 44,371 crore as against Rs 43,591 crore earned by the private operators.

With a growth rate of nine per cent and revenues of Rs 39,500 crore, BSNL remained the top service provider. Its closest competitor Bharti Airtel brought in Rs 11,663 crore, growing at 46 per cent. Reliance grew at 109 per cent to clock revenues of Rs 11,288 crore and become India's third biggest telecom service provider, the survey revealed.

Voice and Data 100 (Vol II) for FY 2005-06 was based on a survey of all licensed telecom service providers in the country. ''The fast-growing market share and revenues of private players, despite steep tariff drops, are proof that telecom liberalisation was a step in the right direction,'' Magazine Editor Ibrahim Ahmad said.

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