10 million cell subscribers per month possible: COAI

The Indian mobile services segment could witness 10 million new subscribers a month by the end of the year feels T V Ramachandran, head, Cellular Operators Association of India, driven by cheaper rentals that make services more affordable in the interiors of the country.

Ramachandran told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, "I''ll not be surprised," referring to the forecast. "The best is yet to come. We haven''t seen anything yet."

Low-cost lifetime subscriptions have helped drive the number of users as many users who had considered a connections a luxury have starting using cell phones.

Public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has also expanded into rural areas, connecting more people to networks that now add on average six million users a month.

India expects to more than double the number of telephone users by 2010 from 212 million at present to 500 million as call rates have come down to among the lowest in the world.

At present nearly 80 per cent telephone subscribers use mobile phones.