India’s GSM operators added 7.27 million subscribers in May 2012, taking the total number of GSM subscribers in the country to 677.85 million. Uttar Pradesh (East) reported highest customer additions of over 1.44 million subscribers.
Airtel reported the highest addition of 2.01 million subscribers during the month, taking its total subscriber base to 185.30 million. State owned BSNL added 1,735 users taking the total subscriber base to 94.68 million, MTNL lost 168,363 subscribers during May 2012.
However, Aircel’s additions during the month were lower at 806,149, compared with 1.01 million recorded in May. The company’s total subscriber base rose to 64.39 million. Vodafone India added 1.2 million customers during the month taking its subscriber base to 152.48 million. Idea Cellular added 1.75 million new subscribers during the month, taking its subscriber to 115.97 million.
Please note : COAI GSM Subscriber base does not include the Reliance Communications (Rcom) and Tata Docomo’s GSM subscriber Base (same not submitted to COAI).
venkat raj July 5, 2012 at 10:12 am
All the private telecom GSM operators furnishing non realistic information to TRAI.Because if tomorrow the private companies want to sell some part of their company,its worth depends on the customer base.if really they added this amount of customers,why they are announcing less profits in for the past few years.is it for escaping from tax burdens?.BSNL and MTNL are only genuine companies in this regard.BSNL and MTNL are not cheating customers in the way like hiding extra charges. BSNL and MTNL billing is very very transparent.
RR KUMAR June 25, 2012 at 9:08 pm
no, its because of KBC. ppl keep sending sms for kaun banega crorepati and their sim is active !
KUNHIRAMAN June 25, 2012 at 8:37 pm
No comments at all if the telecom operatorsa are not increasing the call charges
mahesh June 25, 2012 at 6:21 pm
idea ke jada customer active hai kyo ki wo deactive hi nahi karta do sal purana sim abhi bhi chalu chalu hai wo customer call bhi nahi kara to bhi
bharathkumara June 25, 2012 at 4:12 pm
thanks for suggestion.. today in karnataka idea cellular(spice), similar to airtel, vodofone and bsnl, because, they already given coverage all over karnataka, in rurals to, whether other telecom company dont have coverage but idea will be covered their… even everyone buying now a days, if we given got any problem with coverage, please make the complient, with in 2 month, it will be ready their..
Saurabh June 24, 2012 at 1:29 pm
22g, Idea has good network in our Haryana as Escotel (which Idea bought) had maintained it well and now Idea also doing the same but not in Punjab. You may know that Idea didn’t started its own operations in Punjab. They buyout Spice Telecom and Spice which was one of the best providers in Punjab became worst as they don’t spend much for maintaining network. Idea Chairman K.M Birla called Spice-Takeover as one of the bad decision Idea took in business. If someone has to be blamed it should be Spice. Idea paid hefty amount for Spice (Punjab & Karanatka). If they had started operations on their own licenses, I don’t think the service would be that bad and also they will have been free to launch 3G also which they can’t now because of their merger with Spice.
You can go for Tata Docomo CDMA but you have to buy an OMH handset. If you are mobile internet customer then you will not get speed more than 153.6Kbps as there is no EV-DO service except Panipat. Also Tata EV-DO coverage is also not good in Punjab. Rajpura which is nearest to you has Reliance EV-DO but not Tata. But 1X is avialable everywhere.
Saurabh June 24, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Not all private companies do this. Few months back, Idea reported a loss of 1.70+ Lakh customers in Haryana circle. So, if they don’t report de-active customers where that negative figure came from? But Airtel is the company which rarely reports de-active customers. As per TRAI reports Idea has most active customers at 91.3% while that of Airtel is 70%.
It’s also true that BSNL reports active customers and remove de-active ones. Also they don’t sell SIM on roadside like private cos. In our area retailers don’t have BSNL sim and if you need it, you have to go to local exchange.
hardeep June 23, 2012 at 3:45 pm
moving to cdma because not happy with gsm. was an idea subscriber since long, but ported to voda, as in idea really has difficulty in calling while roaming in punjab. and in voda, there’s no calling prob in either my area or punjab, but network vanishes in blackberry in punjab, hv also checked with many others, so its not handset prob….. moreover hv changed handset too but same prob in another bb too….. and the best operator in india is the worst operator of haryana i.e. airtel, so cant port to that. and in reliance cdma had been having bsnl calling problems since ages. so didnt want to go there, so hv thought of porting to tata cdma@Saurabh
@Saurabh
RF June 23, 2012 at 2:50 pm
@Pranab
Bsnl is doing this thats y there addition are so low. They are adding 15 to 20 lakh customers /month and in the mean time they are removing their inactive customers also and most of the others companies are not doing thats y they are showing so many additions whereas Bsnl is showing so less additions.
Saurabh June 23, 2012 at 2:07 pm
@Achu From Calicut
There is a criteria but you are not aware of it i.e y you said there is no such law.
DoT provide extra spectrum to companies with more subscriber as per criteria set by them i.e why Airtel, Idea and Vodafone holds 7.8-8MHz of spectrum in some circles and that too without paying extra cost. Initially 4.4MHz is provided and as users base grow, extra spectrum is provided.
Reliance, Tata and Aircel had recently filed petition with TDSAT and demanded extra 1.8MHz spectrum before auction from DoT as they have fulfilled the criteria and reached the subscribers mark as set by DoT while awarding licenses and DoT is bound to make it available.
But current scenario shows that DoT is not in situation to provide it till 2G Spectrum auction happens.
Due to 122 license cancellation, DoT will have 536.8 MHz of spectrum in 1800 MHz band and 302.50 MHz of spectrum will be auctioned till the deadline set by SC i.e August 31 (I hope so)
Pranab June 23, 2012 at 11:41 am
Whether all additions are brand new . Where the old numbers of people are goging ? which remain switched off just after few months of working. Is that numbers removed from the so called millions of customers lis ?
Achu June 23, 2012 at 7:29 am
There is no such law.
Amit Deb Biswas June 23, 2012 at 1:21 am
thanksss boss…
Arif June 22, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Yes, very right. Every corner you will find SIM card seller. Once I saw seller selling SIM card of Idea and Reliance on footpath, like people sell banana on footpath. Actually they are selling SIM like a vegetable because Govt. made a law that those who have more number of subscriber those will get more spectrum. Before this SIM card always used to sell at MRP but now free.
Abhijith June 22, 2012 at 10:45 pm
@CSK
Network is good least congestion comparing to other operators in tamilnadu . . Good voice quality. . . Good 3g coverage. . But call rates are little bit high . . But quality of service none can beat airtel in tamilnadu . . . .
Good to use for normal users cannot expect much offers from airtel. . . . Just we can use for incoming and emergency calling . .
jignesh June 22, 2012 at 10:16 pm
ye us and throw bund karo or sach batAVO OR IS SE TARRIFF GHATAO
Saurabh June 22, 2012 at 10:09 pm
@TelecomTalk, I request you to please add a line in future articles regarding subscribers stats of Reliance, Tata Docomo and MTS that To check data for these operators, you can visit auspi.in and download excel file.
@Sanjay from Ghaziabad, It easy to laugh and make a mockery but if you are not lazy enough, the answer for your question is in previous comments. BTW Reliance is No.2 telecom company after Airtel though not in GSM space as it is dual-technology operator.
Sanjay June 22, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Ha, ha ha.. where is reliance data, once again relaince is hiding its worst performance…
KUNHIRAMAN June 22, 2012 at 8:17 pm
peoplea are taking SIM cards and call after the balace amount is over throw it away and choose another SIM by a new number.most of the peoples having 10 to 25 SIM cards , that is the reason why private operators selling millions of SIM per months . But BSNL / MTNL is not like this , Actual SIM using
Sinoj June 22, 2012 at 7:57 pm
From where can I get information of Docomo, Reliance and MTS?
Saurabh June 22, 2012 at 7:51 pm
@Vikas, One funny thing I forgot to tell. Aircel customers from other circle coming to my town get network access via Vodafone/Tata Docomo. Like my friend had Aircel Punjab number and when we tried to access Aircel network we got No Network Access.
Saurabh June 22, 2012 at 7:37 pm
@VIKAS
I know that Aircel is using Tata Docomo’s network for their GSM operations in Haryana but they have their own tower/network at my place. I can access both network i.e IND 807 which is Aircel’s home network code for Haryana and IND 031 which is of Tata Docomo Haryana. It’s not of my concern if Aircel network is not present at your place. Aircel has around 100 cell sites operational across Haryana including my place and at all other places Aircel customers are getting network via Tata Docomo cell sites.
That’s why I said, I’m on least congested network because I know people at other places are using TD network as Aircel’s own towers are not present at those places.
VIKAS June 22, 2012 at 7:13 pm
FYI, Aircel has not covered Haryana with their own network and operational through TATA DOCOMO GSM network. Hence you are not using the least congested network.
@Saurabh
Jitu June 22, 2012 at 6:52 pm
MTNL network sucks everywhere….third class customer care and third class services….MTS network is decling day by day..call drops are very frequent but their call plans are great…i hope MTS will stay and participate in upcoming auctions…i also saw in economic times newspaper that MTS stop its expenditure on voice services but MTS will spen their budget on data services expension…lets see what will happen in upcoming days….
srikanthaiah June 22, 2012 at 6:04 pm
so poor our marketing of our products it is so pitiable when compared to private serice providers . our market share losing mobile connections of mtnl is very much disturbing and our own good B S N L is not at all encouraging of may
2012 increase in subscriber base.
sunil June 22, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I am using the MTNL GSM phone since last two years in Mumbai and I dont have any problem in fact i was charged more by my earlier operator But MTNL is just fine. Still it is losing customer then i think i may be wrong.
Saurabh June 22, 2012 at 3:55 pm
@Hardeep, Yes, the figures I shown in brackets were the net additions by these operators in Haryana circle in month of May.
Regarding your CDMA query, I don’t use CDMA services of any operator (Tata, Reliance, MTS). It is easy to buy a handset and change GSM SIM card than buying phone of every CDMA operator and also OMH handset with good features like EV-DO, camera quality are costly and getting an OMH Sim card is tough task here in my town. Also absence of USSD feature in CDMA and complicated processes of activating service and using it keeps me away.
Once, I used Tata CDMA handset of my friend for a month but really found it boring though network and voice clarity is good due to 800MHz band everywhere. But I don’t use voice feature much. My contact book contains 4-5 contacts only. GSM is best for me as I mostly use it for Internet purpose i.e 2G/3G and very less calling. For me CDMA is a complete NO NO as I don’t find it easy to use. GSM has simplicity in it.
According to the people I talked to who are using it, Tata Docomo CDMA coverage in Haryana and other northern regions is good. But do let me know why you want to go for Tata CDMA..
KUNHIRAMAN KACHARA June 22, 2012 at 2:49 pm
BSNL GAIN IN SOUTHERN STATES ESPESCIALLY IN KERALA ( KANNUR/ERNAKULAM DISTRICT) AND A TOTAL LOSS IN ALL NORTHERN STATES , Like GUJARATH.PUNJAB,RAJASTHAN ETC , ie , THE LOSSED CONNECTION FROM THESE STAES WOULD BE COMPELLED TO SOLD IN SOUTHERN STATES. CHANGE THE ATTITUDE
Arora June 22, 2012 at 2:12 pm
As said by me in previous posts its just The “SIM CARD Holders” not the actual subscriber.No accurate data about actual subscriber.677.85 Million means 67,78,50,000 Nos.of subscriber.Many of my frnds have 10 to 20 sims of different Telecom Companies….
CSK June 22, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Howz airtel offers in tamilnadu?
Vikas Patidar June 22, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Airtel is giving good offers now a days. That’s why they are leading from past two months. They are giving 700 free minutes, 200MB free data , 400 SMS on FRC of 50 – 70 RS.
hardeep June 22, 2012 at 1:01 pm
hey can u plz tell me hows tata cdma network in haryana n overall?!
hardeep June 22, 2012 at 1:00 pm
so what u r mentioning in brackets () are net additions, and not additions as u mentioned!
Sayan Chattopadhyay June 22, 2012 at 12:34 pm
uninor added 1.52mn new customers,current base 45.07mn.
Saurabh June 22, 2012 at 12:18 pm
@Rupesh,
MTS, Reliance and Tata Docomo submit their subscribers report to AUSPI (Association or lobbyist for CDMA operators). You can find their subscriber base at auspi.in Figures for May, 2012 will be posted soon on their website. But you can find April, 2012 figures there.
@Baiju, Read the headline again. It’s GSM subscribers stats not CDMA..
RUPESH KUMAR JAIN June 22, 2012 at 11:56 am
WHY DOCOMO AND RELIANCE IS NOT GIVING THEIR UPDATES IN COAI ?
bharathkumara June 22, 2012 at 11:38 am
mts is CDMA, its not GSM.. y u guys always bother about that…
Baiju June 22, 2012 at 11:33 am
MTS two new connection taken my friend last month…..but telecomtalk shows no new connection MTS…
Saurabh June 22, 2012 at 11:18 am
@hardeep
I’m surprised to see your concern regarding addition in just 1 circle and Pan-India. Actually, we both are right here as I’ve posted additions of Haryana circle and TelecomTalk has posted overall additions in 22 circles by BSNL.
Suppose an operators has added 100 new customer in circle A and lost 75 in circle B then what will be the net addition? The answer is 25(100-75=25). But addition of 100 in circle A can’t be compared with net additions.
Similarlly BSNL has added customers in some circles and lost in other and their net additions come to 1735. In Punjab circle alone BSNL lost around 3.69 Lakhs customers.
hardeep June 22, 2012 at 10:56 am
the post says that BSNL added 1735 (pan india), and u say they added 7,057 (in haryana alone)….. who is right n who is wrong?!
Amit June 22, 2012 at 9:32 am
MTS did not add any, that’s bad!!
I guess Mtag 401 smartphone is not a big hit because of its price.
I think people are doubtful weather MTS will remain or not in the coming months.
Their network is become very bad compared to 3 years back when I was using it, lots of call drop, hope they improve their network.
Saurabh June 22, 2012 at 9:05 am
Here are the stats for Haryana circle:
1. Vodafone: Total- 4,546,396 (12,768)
2. Idea: Total- 3,869,529 (8,488)
3. BSNL: Total- 2,979,948 (7,057)
4. Airtel: Total- 2,483,234 (10,595)
5. Videocon: Total- 1,014,820 (48,960)
6. Aircel: Total- 584,752 (17,009)
Total additions in month of May- 104,877.
Figures in close brackets are additions in May, 2012.
Videocon again re-gained million subscriber mark in Haryana after 9 months and also in terms of percentage gainers in month of May, they are no.1 with 46.75%.
Vodafone and Idea continuing to be No.1 and 2 respectively due to best network and quality services with 900 MHz spectrum band followed by BSNL, Airtel, Videocon and Aircel.
Aircel has least subscribers and It’s good for me to be on least congested network.
Sayan Chattopadhyay June 22, 2012 at 8:58 am
where is uninor??
Amit Deb Biswas June 22, 2012 at 8:25 am
Oye dhoti ko chora haru uninor ko news kata ho??
jeet June 22, 2012 at 8:13 am
last 2 days,i am using free roaming in airtel,
my call charge 1/2 p sec in roam,power use roaming,
free incoming call
indrajit June 22, 2012 at 8:02 am
uninor?
Abhijith June 22, 2012 at 7:59 am
Nice to see airtel at top . . . Keep going thumps up . . . .
Vikram June 22, 2012 at 7:32 am
MTNL will be loosing cutomers because of their poor network. I ported my number from tata indicom to MTNL but it was total waste. I cannot even get single bar at Dadar station which is center of city. They offer cheap service but what is the use if there is not network????
MTNL should work towards improving their network coverage rather than offering fancy and tempenting offers.
Asit Paul June 22, 2012 at 6:59 am
MTS did not added any customers? How is this possible?
Tharun George June 22, 2012 at 5:59 am
We are close to overtake china.