Uninor grows the fastest adding 2.49 mn new users in January

Uninor surged ahead adding 2.49 million new users in January, despite the uncertainties over its operations following the cancellation of licences and feud between the two partners.

The GSM operator, a joint venture between Norway's Telenor and Indian real estate major Unitech, had also led the subscriber addition charts in November 2011. However, it was pushed to the second position in December, with Idea Cellular leading the pack with 2.39 million new users.

In continuation of the momentum in the telecom sector, Indian telecom service providers added 9.88 million new users in January 2012, taking the total subscriber base to 936.12 million. (See: India adds 9.88 million new telecom users in January)

India's GSM operators added 8.44 million new subscribers in January, which was also led by Uninor, which added 2.49 million new users. The total GSM subscriber base rose to 648.08 million, according to data released by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). (See: India GSM operators add 8.44 million new users in January)

Uninor's addition of 2.49 million users, gains importance as it garnered almost one-fourth of the total addition of 9.88 million users in January. The company has 38.7 million customers and accounts for 4.29 per cent of the total 903.73 million mobile connections in the country.

On February 2, 2012, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 2G licences provided after January 2008 in on grounds they were issued in a "totally arbitrary and unconstitutional" manner. The court also directed Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to make fresh recommendations 2G licence allocations. (See:SC cancels all 2G licences, orders fresh spectrum auction)