GSM operators add 4.41 million users in September

India's GSM operators added 4.41 million new users, taking their total subscriber base to 678.82 million at the end of September, with Idea Cellular and Vodafone leading the user additions during the month.

This is a 0.65 per cent rise from the previous month as the GSM operators added a meagre 1.78 million new users in August.

Idea added 1.2 million users, while the Aditya Birla group company's subscriber base rose to 127.23 million. It ranked third among the GSM operators with an 18.74 per cent market share. In terms of telecom circle, Uttar Pradesh (East) had the maximum of 59.31 million users during the month, according to data released by Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI).

Vodafone India also added 1.2 million new users, with the Indian unit of British telecom major Vodafone Plc garnering a 22.91 per cent market share.

The company's total subscriber base rose to 155.54 million during the quarter under review.

Bharti Airtel, India's largest operator by subscribers and revenues, added 1.16 million users during the month. The company, which garnered a total of 193.39 million users, maintained its leadership position with a 28.49 per cent market share.

Aircel, in which Malaysia's Maxis Communications holds a majority stake, added 642,799 users. It had a total of 63.25 million subscribers and a 9.32 per cent market share as of September 30.

Additions also came in for Videocon Mobile Services, which added 314,780 users during the month, increasing its total customer base to 3.24 million.

Uninor added 102,186 users taking its total to 32.36 million, while Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) lost 231,150 users during the month. The State-owned company with operations in just two circles – Mumbai and Delhi – had a total of 3.61 million users.