BSNL, MTNL take a hit on MNP
08 Aug 2011
Mobile Number Portability (MNP), launched by prime minister Manmohan Singh with great fanfare in January this year, has started hurting Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) as the number of subscribers opting out of the two state-run mobile telecom companies is much higher than those opting in for their mobile services.
The latest government figures reveal that so far the BSNL has lost 9.33 lakh subscribers to private players due to MNP, while gaining 3.49 lakh users.
Therefore, the company has suffered a net outgo of over 5.84-lakh subscribers.
Similarly, MTNL which operates in Delhi and Mumbai circles, saw 67,198 of its subscribers opt for private players, while only 11,593 switched to its services under MNP, resulting in net outgo of 55,605 subscribers.
From being the number one operator a few years ago, BSNL has been gradually seeing its position erode in the Indian mobile market that is adding over 1.5-crore subscribers every month.
With 9.28 crore subscribers, BSNL is at fifth position and has an 11 per cent market share.