8 million GSM mobile customers added in Dec 2008 in India

India's GSM players have added over 8 million mobile customers in December 08.
As per the latest data compiled by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the GSM subscriber base has touched 258 million as of December 2008, up 3.25 % from 249.7 million in November 08. The growth witnessed in December was lead by Bharti Airtel, which added over 2.7 million new users taking its subscriber base to about 87 million. Bharti now commands a market share of 33.22% in the GSM place.

Vodafone Essar with a market share of 23.63% added 2 million subscribers in December 08 taking its total subscriber base to about 60 million. Idea Cellular added close to 1 million subscribers during the same period taking its total subscriber base to 38 million.

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) recorded a positive growth with about over 8 lakh additions in the given period, taking its all India subscriber base to 41 million.

Interestingly, among all circles, category C circle witnessed the highest rate of growth at 3.83%, followed by category B circle at 3.56%, with metros recording the lowest growth rate of 2.3%.