Photographs: Soo Hoo Zheyang/Reuters.
The new 'Scoreboard' tracks the top 20 global operator groups by connections based on majority-owned assets in Q2 2012. Minority holdings (less than 50 percent plus one share) are excluded from the analysis.
Three Indian companies are listed among the world's top 20 mobile operators.
Take a look at the world's largest mobile operators...
1. China Mobile (China)
China Mobile continued its lead as the world's largest operator group, growing connections by 11 per cent year-on-year to 683.1 million.
Two of its domestic rivals moved up the ranking compared to a year ago - and all three now feature in the top ten for the first time.
Connections: 683.08 million
YoY Growth, connections: 11%
Mobile Revenue: $22.05 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Jayanta Dey/Reuters.
2. Vodafone Group (United Kingdom)
Connections: 386.88 million
YoY Growth, connections: 5%
Mobile Revenue: $13.92 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Henry Romero/Reuters.
America Movil Group (United States)
Connections: 251.83 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $7.98 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters.
4. Bharti Airtel Group (India)
Connections: 250.04 million
YoY Growth, connections: 13%
Mobile Revenue: $3.04 bn
Bharti Airtel was the only other member of the top ten to move up the ranking, recording a 13 percent year-on-year rise in connections and leapfrogging Telefonica to become the world's fourth-largest operator group in Q2.
However, Bharti's US$3.04 billion in mobile revenue in Q2 2012 is significantly lower than the four other operators in the top five, reflecting Bharti's presence in the ultra low-cost, low-margin Indian and African markets, says Wireless Intelligence.
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Susana Vera/Reuters.
Telefonica Group (Spain)
Connections: 243.51 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $11.40 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Christina Hu/Reuters.
China Unicom (China)
Connections: 219.25 million
YoY Growth, connections: 21%
Mobile Revenue: $4.95 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters.
VimpelCom Group (Russia)
(includes Orascom group)
Connections: 205.05 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $4.58 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: K.K. Arora/Reuters.
Reliance Communications (India)
Connections: 154.60 million
YoY Growth, connections: 8%
Mobile Revenue: $0.48 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Gustau Nacarino/Reuters.
Telenor Group (Norway)
Connections: 152.74 million
YoY Growth, connections: 24%
Mobile Revenue: $2.55 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Courtesy, China Telecom.
China Telecom (China)
Connections: 144.18 million
YoY Growth, connections: 33%
Mobile Revenue: $3.37 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters.
MTN Group (South Africa)
Connections: 136.59 million
YoY Growth, connections: 14%
Mobile Revenue: $3.85 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Eric Gaillard/Reuters.
France Telecom Group (France)
Connections: 133.38 million
YoY Growth, connections: 57%
Mobile Revenue: $7.18 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Beawiharta/Reuters.
Telkomsel Gr (Indonesia)
Connections: 117.24 million
YoY Growth, connections: 15%
Mobile Revenue: $1.43 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Courtesy, Idea Cellular.
Idea Cellular (India)
Connections: 117.16 million
YoY Growth, connections: 15%
Mobile Revenue: $1 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Courtesy, Sistema Group.
Sistema Group (Russia)
(Includes MTS Group)
Connections: 114.51 million
YoY Growth, connections: 3%
Mobile Revenue: $2.54 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Joe Skipper/Reuters.
Verizon Wireless
Connections: 111.37 million
YoY Growth, connections: 5%
Mobile Revenue: $15.78 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Deutsche Telekom Group (Germany)
Connections: 107.86 million
YoY Growth, connections: 2%
Mobile Revenue: $8.38 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Courtesy, AT&T.
AT&T (United States)
Connections: 105.21 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $14.77 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
Photographs: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters.
Telecom Italia (Italy)
Connections: 101.10 million
YoY Growth, connections: 16%
Mobile Revenue: $4.10 bn
...
World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4
BSNL (India)
Connections: 98.28 million
YoY Growth, connections: 5%
Mobile Revenue: $0.44 bn
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