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Cellular subscriber base up 5.21% in October

India's cellular subscriber base has grown by 5.21 per cent in the month of October 2002 to touch 89.7 lakh (8.97 million) customers as against 85.3 lakh (8.53 million) in September.

Industry's monthly additions went up from 361,000 in September 2002 to 445,000 in October this year, according to the latest figures released by by Cellular Operators Association of India.

The subscribers' figures, however, do not include October data from Bharat Sanchar Nigam and the corporation's subscribers in September has been taken as the latest figure. Hence the actual All-India cellular base may be higher than reflected in the data.

Metros recorded an increase of 179,000 subscribers, which is more than previous while circle 'A' comprising states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka amongst others registered an increase of 141,000, which is less than last month's addition.

The circle 'B' comprising Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, UP West and East and West Bengal amongst others, recorded an increase of 114,000 cellular customers, up from September's addition, COAI said.

In Delhi, the total cellular subscriber base rose to 14.74 lakh (1.5 million) in October 2002 compared to 14.04 lakh (1.4 million) in September this year with Bharti cellular maintaining its lead over rivals Hutchison-Essar and MTNL.

Bharti's subscriber base in the month under consideration stood at 791,000 with Hutchison-Essar and MTNL notching a base of 555,000 and 126,000 respectively.

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