GSM operators add just 1.78 mn new users in August

Impacted by the deceleration in economy and subscriber verification norms, India's GSM operators added a mere 1.78 million new users in August, taking their total subscriber base to 674.4 million (see table).

However, even this is a marginal increase of about 0.26 per cent from the previous month's 1.49 million subscriber additions that took the total user base to 672.6 million.

Aircel topped the list with a subscriber addition of 8,76,883 users in August, taking its total subscriber base to 62.60 million users. The fifth-ranked GSM operator posted a market share 9.28 per cent, according to data released by the industry body Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI).

Bharti Airtel, India's largest operator by subscribers and revenues, added 8,33,852 users during the month. The company, which garnered a total of 192.22 million users, maintained its leadership position with a 28.50 per cent market share.

Idea Cellular added 7,52,107 users during the month, taking its total subscriber base to 126 million. The Aditya Birla group company ranked third among the GSM operators, with an 18.69 per cent market share.

Additions also came in for Videocon Mobile Services, which added 1,58,003 users during the month, increasing its total customer base to 2.92 million as of August-end.

However, operators like MTNL, Uninor and Vodafone lost a combined 838,000 subscribers, with Uninor, which had closed down operations in Mumbai on 16 February, topping the list with a loss 5,05,589 users during the month.

State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd witnessed 2,48,331 users moving away from its network, while Vodafone India, the second-rung GSM operator, lost 85,812 users during the reporting month.

Vodafone India's user base fell to 154.3 million as of August-end.