Signalling a revival in the telecom sector, India’s GSM operators added 7.12 million new subscribers in October, as against 6.52 million in the previous month, taking the total number of users to 625.41 million.


Subscriber additions had been declining for four months since May, with the sector exhibiting a reversal in trend in September when it added 6.5 million subscribers, taking the total number to 618.28 million users. Bharti Airtel, the country’s largest GSM player, added 0.95 million users, taking its total subscriber base to 173.73 million, according to data released by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). The New Delhi-based firm had a 27.78-per cent market share, maintaining its leadership position in the country.