The Cells are Ready to Multiply

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.

Sudesh Prasad