> News By Industry> Telecom> Article
India records 67 mn connections for 06-07 http://www1.economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Telecom/India_records_67_mn_connections_for_06-07/articleshow/1943960.cms
AGENCIES
MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007 0
NEW DELHI: India added 67 million mobile phone users in the year through March 2007, taking the total number wireless connections in the country to 166 million, the telecom regulator said Monday.
The 68 percent year-on-year growth helped the total number of phone users in India to surpass the 200 million mark, despite a marginal decline in land phones, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said.
There are now 207 million phone connections in the country, including 41 million land phones, it said.
"This is highest ever increase in the subscriber base during a financial year after the opening up of the telecom sector for competition," the regulator said in a statement.
The telecommunications sector was a monopoly of state-run companies until 1994, when the government first allowed private companies to enter the business.
Increasing competition coupled with technological advances have since helped the sector grow rapidly.
The additions over the past year, which averaged more than 5 million a month, make India one of the world's fastest-growing telecom markets and a favorite among global companies that either provide telephone services or make equipment for the industry.
Copyright © 2007 Times Internet Limited.