GSM mobile operators add 81.9 lakh subscribers in March: COAI

The GSM cellular subscribers' base rose by 1.17 per cent in March to reach 70.52 crore with mobile operators adding 81.9 lakh users during the month, industry body COAI said today.

"All India GSM cellular subscriber figures as of March stood at 70.52 crore. The GSM subscribers increased by 81.9 lakh in March, a 1.17 per cent increase from previous month," Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said.

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The GSM subscriber base stood at 69.70 crore at the end of February. COAI, which represents telecom players like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Aircel said the data does not include GSM subscriber number of Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices.

It has also stopped reporting the GSM numbers of state-run BSNL. Reliance Jio Infocomm had also joined the body but the company is yet to start telecom services.

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Country's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel added 28.97 lakh subscribers to take its overall base to 22.60 crore during the month.

Idea Cellular added 23.54 lakh users and its base stood at 15.78 crore whereas Vodafone added 13.58 lakh subscribers to take its base to 18.38 crore at the end of March.

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Aircel added 8.64 lakh subscribers and its base increased to 8.13 crore while Uninor also added 4.63 lakh users to take its base to 4.56 crore at the end of reported period.

State-run MTNL added 19,353 subscribers and its base has increased to 34.23 lakh. Videocon also added 2.30 lakh users to take its base to 71.33 lakh.

Source: PTI