GSM operators add 11mn new users in Nov

The GSM-based cellular service providers have reported subscriber additions of 11.08mn during November, as against addition of 10.32mn in October, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said. With this, the cumulative All India GSM subscriber base has now grown to 366.78mn in November, up from 355.25mn in October, the lobby group for GSM operators said. Among the companies, Vodafone Essar added 2.78mn new users in November, taking its total base to 88.61mn while market leader Bharti Airtel saw its total base rise by 2.8mn to 116.01mn. Idea Cellular added 2.55mn new customers, boosting its subscriber base to 55.91mn, while Aircel increased its base by 1.61mn to 29.35mn. BSNL added 1.22mn new customers, taking its reach to 55.19mn. Loop Mobile added 50,303 new subscribers, taking its total to 2.6mn. MTNL added 73,019 new customers, boosting its total base to 4.51mn. Bharti Airtel continues to be the top GSM operator in the country, with a market share of 31.63% followed by Vodafone Essar at 24.16%, BSNL at 15.05% and Idea at 15.24%.