India's Pvt sector telephones shares recorded 65 pc in Dec'06

London, May 23 (UNI) With the reforms agenda undertaken by India in the telecom sector, Commerce Secretary G K Pillai today disclosed that share of private sector in the number of telephones in the country has increased from 15 per cent in March 2002 to 65 per cent in December 2006.

In his opening statement at secretariat of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva which began with three-day review of India's trade policy, he said the telecom revolution unleashed through competition among multiple private telecom companies, the total number of telephones in India has increased from 54.63 million on March 31, 2003 to 206.83 million on March 31, 2007.

He said six million phones are being added every month and India hopes to touch 500 million telephones by the year 2010 adding that ''Little shops offering internet access are now dotted all over the country.'' Mr Pillai said all telecom services have been opened to international competition. There is no limit on the number of service providers in national and international long distance segment.

UNI