Mobile handset retailers expand in Punjab

With a subscriber base of 8.58 million, Punjab (including Chandigarh) is a lucrative market for the telecom players, and also for the handset makers.

According to estimates, there is a demand of about 150,000-200,000 handsets in Punjab and Chandigarh market. In order to have a larger pie of the growing mobile handset market in Punjab and Chandigarh, retail chains are strengthening their presence in this market.

Recently, Mumbai-based The MobileStore Ltd, (an Essar Group company) opened its store in Chandigarh and plans to open 60 stores in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Further, the company plans to create 750 stores across India by the end of this fiscal.

The CEO and director of The MobileStore Ltd, Rajiv Aggarwal, said: "In Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana, we have our presence in key cities like Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Ambala.

Further, in order to extend our presence into smaller towns and cities, we will soon create over 40 retail stores across 5 cities in these states."

According to data, in India there is a demand of 6-7 million handsets per month which translates into 72 to 84 million handsets annually, so there is huge potential. Further, the handset market is growing at the rate of 60 per cent annually.

Also retail major Subhiksha, which has 9 exclusive mobile outlets in the states, also plans to strengthen its presence in smaller cities of the two states and a union territory.

At present the company has over 90 stores (categorised into super markets, fruit and vegetables, pharmaceutical and telecom formats) in these states. It plans to take the total tally to 200 by the end of next financial year.

Nokia had launched its flagship 'Concept Store' in Chandigarh. Chandigarh is the fifth Indian city after Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur and Delhi to have its own ' Nokia Concept Store'.

The company also plans to strengthen its number of its priority dealers in Punjab and Haryana.