GSM operators add 1.49 million phone users in July

India's GSM operators added 1.49 million subscribers in July 2013, a 0.22 per cent rise from the previous month, taking their total user base to 672.63 million, data released by industry body the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) showed.

In comparison, the GSM operators had added 3.57 million subscribers in June 2013, with Bharti Airtel garnering the maximum number of users, followed by Idea and Vodafone.

Aircel topped subscriber additions with the service provider adding 755,523 users and taking its total to 61.73 million. The operator's total subscriber base rose to 61.73 million and ranked fifth among the GSM operators in the country with a 9.18 per cent market share.

Bharti Airtel added 476,593 subscribers during the month, taking its total to 191.39 million users. The operator maintained its leadership position in the country with a 28.45 per cent market share.

During the month under review, Idea Cellular added 300,099 users, taking the total to 125.27 million. The Aditya Birla Group company had a market share of 18.62 per cent.

Uninor added 463,431 users, taking its total to 32.76 million, while Videocon added 353,787 users during the month under review.

However, Vodafone India lost 610,694 users during the month. The company's total subscriber base stood at 154.42 million, with a 22.96 per cent market share.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), the State-run telecom operator, lost 244,505 users during the month. The company, with operations in just two metro circles – Mumbai and Delhi – had a total of 4.10 million users as of July end.