India becomes World’s 2nd biggest telecom market

Indian telecom firms added a record 10.16 million wireless subscribers in March, data showed on Friday, propelling India move past the US to become the second-largest market in the world, trailing only China.

In February, operators had added 8.53 million wireless subscribers in the world’s fastest-growing wireless market. Trai said there were 261.1 million wireless users in India at end-March, up 58% from a year earlier. The US is estimated to have 257.9 million wireless users, according to the International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry website.

Last month, Trai said China had 540.5 million subscribers as of February. In India, top operator Bharti Airtel led the signings with 2.31 million new customers in March, and Reliance Communications added 1.62 million. Unlisted Vodafone Essar, controlled by Britain’s Vodafone Plc, added 1.57 million mobile customers in March.

Total wireless subscribers rose by almost 96 million in 2007-08, but fixed-line users dipped 1.33 million to 39.42 million. Total fixed-line and wireless subscribers rose 46% to 300.5 million.

Above news courtesy: TimesofIndia

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