Private telecom operators have managed to grab 43 per cent of the total revenue generated from telecom services during 2004-05, says a leading communications business magzine.
The telecom services industry in the country grew by 16 per cent from Rs 58,741 crore (Rs 587.41 billion) in 2003-04 to Rs 68,069 crore (Rs 680.69 billion) in 2004-05, a survey carried out by 'Voice and Data' said.
Cellular services continued their great march, growing at 63 per cent last year, whereas fixed services posted a negative growth of one per cent, although it still formed the biggest chunk (48 per cent) of the telecom services market, the survey said.
According to the report, national long distance services grew by 22 per cent while international long distance services slipped by 12 per cent.
On the much talked about broadband, the report found that the Internet services could grow by only one per cent.
According to the survey, state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited occupied the top slot with a revenue of Rs 36,303 crore (Rs 363.03 billion) among top 10 service providers followed by Bharti with Rs 8.035 crore (Rs 80 million) in 2004-05.
Another PSU, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited came third with revenue of Rs 6,084 crore (Rs 60.84 billion) followed by Reliance and Hutch.
Tata-owned companies like Videsh Sanchar Nigam and Tata Tele grabbed the sixth and eighth slot respectively.
© 2025