savramesh 37 Report post Posted April 13, 2009 The Economic Times 13 Apr 2009, 2026 hrs IST NEW DELHI: Vodafone Essar has added more number new users in March upstaging Bharti Airtel taking the total GSM additions in March to 10.8 million, 17.4 % more than the additions in February. The record growth in the last three months is clear proof that the world’s fastest-growing telecom market remains untouched by the economic slowdown. As per data compiled by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry body representing GSM operators, Vodafone Essar has beaten Bharti Airtel in monthly subscriber additions for the first time. Vodafone Essar added 2.85 million new users in March taking its customer base to just under 69 million, while Bharti Airtel added only 2.81 million. But, Airtel continues to be the largest telco as its total customer base has now crossed the 94 million mark. Bharti also commands 33% market share in the GSM space as against Vodafone Essar’s 24%. The COAI figures don’t include data from Reliance Communications (RCOM) and Tata Teleservices, operators that uses rival CDMA technology. Tatas will launch services using GSM platform within two months and RCOM launched it earlier this year. Industry analysts say the total additions for March, which will include new subscribers of RCOM and the Tatas, is set to be well over 15 million beating January’s record. In January 09, India set a global record by adding 15 million mobile users, the highest ever monthly additions in any country. GSM telcos added 9.7 million in January, but growth witnessed a small dip in February to 9.2 million on account of three fewer working days in the month. "Bharti can no longer take its number one position in terms of monthly adds for granted. For the last three months, RCOM has added more customers, GSM and CDMA technology put together. Vodafone’s success can be attributed to two factors. A few months ago, it launched mobile services in six new circles with better schemes and packages than Bharti Airtel’s. Besides, Vodafone is finally making a big push in rural India," BK Syngal, former CMD of Videsh Sanchar Nigam and senior principal at Dua Consulting said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pasumark 51 Report post Posted April 13, 2009 Figures suggest that Airtel needs to be aggressive in their tariffs to stay No.1. That is good news for all Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KumaarShah 143 Report post Posted April 13, 2009 Exactly, airtel will have to match voda's aggressive tariffs to retain their growth. The recent stv 32 of voda has still not been matched by airtel. Only rcom responded with a similar and slightly better stv offering all local calls at 60ps and all std at 1.20. Voda has been recently introducing innovative tariffs. Way to go, voda....maybe airtel does not want any more congestion on their networks and hence they appear to be tardy in their better tariff introductions....time will tell.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shashank 8 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 The last line is the important one... Vodafone was not operating in as many circles as Airtel...But now they do!! And i kinda feel Vodafone's tariff's and Brand value is much more dynamic than Airtel's which will help Vodafone big time... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manishag 17 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 i would say that airtel needs to be more aggrasive in doing the fake activations Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vvinayakpai 26 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 Airtel needs to be more aggressive. But they do have a constraint on their part. They already have 94 million subscribers and reducing tariffs means maximum utilisation by existing subscribers and also net addition of new high usage value subscribers which would ultimately increase congestion on the already congested network. And with the coming of MNP, I am sure, they would have a lot to lose if they drastically reduce tariffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pasumark 51 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 Airtel needs to be more aggressive. But they do have a constraint on their part. They already have 94 million subscribers and reducing tariffs means maximum utilisation by existing subscribers and also net addition of new high usage value subscribers which would ultimately increase congestion on the already congested network. And with the coming of MNP, I am sure, they would have a lot to lose if they drastically reduce tariffs. With MNP coming, they will lose more if they dont reduce the tariff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hritik123 4 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 the Stats dont take into account reliance GSM numbers , if both reliance CDMA and GSM subscribers are added together i think reliance will beat even Vodafone Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
savramesh 37 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 ^^^ yes u are right.. gsm alone vodafone is more.. cdma+gsm reliance may be more.. they have mentioned "For the last three months, RCOM has added more customers, GSM and CDMA technology put together" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vvinayakpai 26 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 Thats because Reliance never divulges split figures for CDMA and GSM. They make available only consolidated figures!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
savramesh 37 Report post Posted April 14, 2009 customers count is normally based on service providers and not based on technology, thats why reliance shows cdma+gsm customers total count.. if technology wise customers are counted then rgsm will be somewhere in the bottom of the list.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUDYEcaZ 67 Report post Posted April 15, 2009 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4405049.cms Reliance Communications adds 3 mn users in March its my rough guess that on CDMA its around 1 mn and 2 mn on GSM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
srk006 21 Report post Posted April 15, 2009 The additions of Reliance is coming down actually; 5mn in Jan 3.3mn in Feb and now 3mn in March.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
