Pvt telecom cos account for 43% of Rs 68,000cr mkt

Private telecom operators accounted for 43% of the total telecom services revenue in 2004-05. The industry grew by 16% to Rs 68,069 crore in 2004-05 from Rs 58,741 crore in 2003-04, according to a survey conducted by Voice and Data, a leading communications business magazine.

Cellular services grew at a scorching pace of 63% whereas fixed services posted a negative growth of 1% although it still formed the biggest chunk (48%) of the telecom services market, the survey said.

According to the report, national long distance (STD) services grew by 22% while international long distance (ISD) services declined 12%. The report found that Internet services could grow by only 1%.

According to the survey, BSNL occupied the top slot with a revenue of Rs 36,303 crore followed by Bharti with Rs 8,035 crore. MTNL was at the third position with a revenue of Rs 6,084 crore followed by Reliance and Hutch.