GSM operators add 5.72-m users in October

NEW DELHI: The GSM mobile operators today announced that they have added 5.72 million new subscribers in October.

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said in a statement that the total user has reached the mark of 154.7 million subscribers in India.

Telecom major Bharti Airtel added 2.03 million subscribers in October compared to 2.06 million in September. The total subscriber base for the operator touched 50.9 million.

Vodafone Essar Ltd added 1.53 million users in October, taking its subscriber base to 37.2 million. State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited added 0.72 million users in October, taking its total to 31.03 million. Idea Cellular gained 750,108 subscribers in October, lifting its user base to 19.4 million.

Bharti Airtel continues to hold the major market share of 31.88 percent, followed by Vodafone Essar 23.28 percent. However, BSNL holds 19.43 percent.

In terms of growth over previous month, Bharti Airtel grew at 4.16 percent, Vodafone Essar at 4.29 percent, Idea Cellular 4.02 percent and BSNL at 2.4 percent.