GSM client base rises by 6.3 mn in Aug

GSM operators (excluding Reliance Telecom) in the country added 6.3 million subscribers in August, taking the total number of users to 225.6 million. In July, the total GSM subscriber base in the country was 219.30 million.

Bharti Airtel, with a subscriber base of 74.7 million, topped the charts, while the company also posted a market share of 33.15 per cent during the month, according to figures released by the Cellular Operators' Association of India.

Vodafone Essar was in the second slot with a total subscriber base of 52.75 million and a market share of 23.39 per cent.

Reliance Communications, which has GSM operations through subsidiary Reliance Telecom, did not provide its subscriber numbers.

State-owned telecom major BSNL was in the third slot with a market share of 17.06 per cent and a subscriber base of 38.48 million. The company's market share fell from 17.61 per cent in June and 18.01 per cent in May.

Idea with 12.98 per cent (29.27 million) and Aircel with 5.82 per cent (13.12 million) are the other major GSM players in the country.