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The entry of MTNL, DoT’s acceptance of TRAI’s recommendation for limited
mobility services and the finalization of guidelines for the entry of a fourth
cellular operator are set to fuel cellular growth in India. This received a
further boost with the announcement from BSNL about their cellular plans.
Especially significant is MTNL’s entry, which has forced the other cellular
operators to slash their airtime rates significantly. This has generated
tremendous interest among the price-sensitive prospective subscribers and is
likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the cellular subscriber base
in India.
BSNL
hopes to sign up forty lakh customers, for its cellular service and has chalked
out massive plans to launch in 600 cities and connecting highways in October
2001. The services have been launched in Calcutta, Haldia, Patna, Chennai and
Hyderabad. Meanwhile, limited mobility services are expected to be launched by
April 2001. MTNL plans to add 30,000 subscribers, covering all areas of Delhi,
by using CDMA WLL technology. This number is set to grow with the other basic
operators planning to start their WLL services after the policy for the basic
operators is announced.
Meanwhile, MTNL’s mobile phone service registration, which is going on in
Delhi, is likely to give one lakh connections. According to the COAI figure, the
number of cellular subscribers would surpass fixed-line telephone subscribers in
the year 2008.
The issue of WLL services may derail the optimistic growth projections of
cellular subscribers. It is high time this contentious issue is resolved
amicably, so that we can see the projected figures becoming a reality.