Date:25/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/25/stories/2008032555381700.htm

Business

India becoming big mobile market

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India is all set to become the world’s second largest wireless network next month, overtaking the U.S., thanks to the monthly addition of over 80-lakh mobile phone subscribers for the past few months.

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), with the total mobile subscriber base crossing the 26-crore mark, India will have over 30-crore phone subscribers (wireless and wireline) in April.

“The U.S. is adding about 20-30 lakh subscribers in a month whereas China is adding around 60-70 lakh subscribers a month. India’s monthly wireless subscriber addition is highest in the range of 80-90 lakh a month. Thus, India’s wireless subscriber base during the first half of April will surpass that of the U.S. and will become the second wireless network in the world,” it said.