Progress Report - Operator performance between August 2008 and January 2009

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Progress Report - Operator performance between August 2008 and January 2009

March 15, 2009

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The following is an analysis of the performance of key operators in the wireless and fixed line segments between August 2008 and January 2009. It is based on the most recent subscriber figures released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

Wireless segment

Overall, Reliance Communications (RCOM), Idea Cellular and Vodafone Essar gained share in the wireless market, while Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) lost ground. Though it continued to be the market leader, Bharti Airtel registered a marginal decline in market share.

Bharti Airtel's market share declined from 24.5 per cent in August 2008 to 24.4 per cent in January 2009. Airtel's loss was RCOM's gain as the latter not only maintained its second position but saw its market share increase from 17.79 per cent to 18.3 per cent. RCOM was closely followed by Vodafone Essar, which also witnessed an increase in market share from 17.28 per cent to 17.48 per cent. The market shares of TTSL and Idea Cellular remained close to each other. However, Idea's market share increased from 9.59 per cent to 9.95 per cent while TTSL's declined from 9.3 per cent to 9.05 per cent.

During the period under review, BSNL registered the largest decline in wireless market share, from 14.14 per cent to 13.13 per cent.

Here is a look at the performance of the major operators in the wireless segment...

Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel continued to be the market leader in all categories of circles except the metros, where it marginally trailed Vodafone Essar. However, with the exception of Category A circles, where Airtel's market share increased by 0.12 point, the operator lost market share in all categories of circles. In the metros, Category B and Category C circles, Airtel's market share fell by 0.71 point, 0.06 point and 0.78 point respectively.

RCOM
RCOM increased its market share in all categories of circles. It gained 0.91 point in the metros, 0.69 point in Category A circles, 0.57 point in Category B circles and 1.33 points in Category C circles.

Vodafone Essar
Vodafone Essar showed a mixed performance. While its market share declined marginally in the metros and Category A circles, by 0.68 point and 0.21 point respectively, the operator gained ground in Category B and C circles by 0.79 point and 1.74 point respectively.

Idea Cellular
Idea Cellular gained market share in all categories of circles. The largest gain was in Category C circles where its market share increased by 1.33 points. In Category A and B circles and the metros, its market share increased by 0.17 point, 0.13 point and 0.75 point respectively.

TTSL
TTSL lost market share in the metros and Category A and B circles. The largest loss was in the metros, where the operator lost 0.53 point market share.

BSNL
BSNL lost market share in all circle categories. While the loss was 0.19 point in the metros and 0.91 point in Category A circles, steeper losses of 1.34 points and 1.91 points were seen in Category B and C circles respectively.

Wireline segment

Overall, private operators in the segment gained further ground over the incumbents. RCOM and Bharti Airtel increased their share in the total wireline market while BSNL's share came down.

Despite its overall market share slipping from 78.82 per cent to 77.59 per cent, BSNL maintained a large majority in the wireline market. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel's share increased from 6.37 per cent to 7.04 per cent, helping the company maintain its second position. RCOM and TTSL's market shares increased marginally from 2.59 per cent to 2.89 per cent, and from 2.08 per cent to 2.36 per cent respectively.

The following is how the major wireline operators fared during the period under review...

BSNL
The incumbent's market share fell in all circle categories. In the metros, the company registered a 0.42 point reduction while in Category A circles, the decline was 1.3 points. In Category B circles, the PSU's market share decreased by 0.52 point.

MTNL
The overall market share of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), which is present in only the Delhi and Mumbai circles, remained the same at 9.33 per cent during August 2008January 2009.

Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel operates wireline services in the metros, Category A circles and Category B circles. The largest mobile operator in India gained around 1.05 points in the metros, 0.7 point in Category A circles and 0.3 point in Category B circles.

RCOM
RCOM registered all-round gain. However, the increase was more than 0.5 point only in the metros. In Category C circles, the market share increased by merely 0.01 point.

TTSL
TTSL's market share increased by 0.48 point, 0.34 point, 0.07 point and 0.06 point in the metros, Category A, Category B and Category C circles respectively.