Private telecom operators have overtaken their public sector counterparts -- Bharat Sanchar Nigam and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam -- in attracting customers in July this year, capturing 50.24 per cent of the total 107 million-subscriber market, comprising both landline and mobile segments.
According to figures released by telecom regulator TRAI, private players were much ahead of MTNL and BSNL in mobile subscribers base but well behind the PSU operators in fixed telephony as on July 31.
The total capital employed in telecom sector as on March 31 was approximately Rs 1,30,000 crore (Rs 1300 billion). Of this, the PSU operators had employed Rs 86,000 crore (Rs 860 billion), whereas private players pumped in Rs 44,000 crore (Rs 440 billion).
"The purpose of liberalisation in the telecom sector was to bring in more private capital and participation. That purpose seems to have been achieved substantially," TRAI said in a statement.
Private telecom operators had a customer base of 47.33 million in mobile telecom services against 12.50 million by MTNL and BSNL, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said.
PSU operators, on the other hand, had 40.74 million subscribers in fixed line telephony against 6.43 million of private service providers, the figures revealed.
There were 12.66 million more mobile subscribers at 59.83 million against 47.17 million fixed line customers.
Bharti, which provides cellular services under the Airtel brand, has emerged as the biggest mobile company with customer base of 12.79 million, which represents 21.38 per cent of the total market in this segment.
Bharti was followed by Reliance (12.15 million customers), BSNL (11.16), Hutch (8.85), IDEA (5.73) and BPL (2.7).
MTNL, which provides Dolphin services in Mumbai and Delhi, was tenth with 1.33 million customers in a list of total 12 cellular companies.
In fixed line telecom market, BSNL retained lion's share with 36.8 million customers, constituting 78.02 per cent of the total market in this segment.
BSNL was followed by another PSU, MTNL, which had 3.94 million subscribers, representing 8.35 per cent of the market.
Tata had the largest fixed line customers among private players with 3.23 million customers.
Bharti had just 0.97 million subscribers for its Touchtel landline service.
Because of its overwhelming position in fixed line telephony, BSNL was still the largest player in the total telecom market with 47.96 million customers, constituting 44.82 per cent of the market.
Because of less fixed line customers, Bharti was third largest player in the total telecom market behind BSNL and Reliance.
Bharti had 13.76 million customers, while 14.01 million subscribers bought Reliance services.