GSM operators have broken the record for the highest number of new mobile operators yet again with 10.8 million additions in March. Earlier highs This is the third time in the past four months that the GSM operators have broken the previous record for highest number of new users added in a single month. In December, the operators had got a record 8.5 million new subscribers and in January the cellular user base was up by 9.6 million. In March, Vodafone Essar added 2.84 million new users, making it the highest ever for the company. This is also the first time that Vodafone has added more subscribers than market leader Bharti Airtel, which increased its subscriber base by 2.80 million. Number three ranked GSM player BSNL got 2.5 million new subscribers, making it the first time for the PSU to add over 2 million subscribers in a month. Total base The total GSM user base stood at 288.36 million at the end of March, compared with 277.51 million in February. The scorching pace of growth in the mobile sector comes even as the global economy is facing a slump. Regions driving growth The growth is primarily coming from Circle B and C States. Circle B States comprising Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal now has the highest number of mobile users in the country with 107.55 million subscribers. These States are also growing the fastest at 3.85 per cent month-on-month. C Circle States comprising Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, North East and Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a growth rate of 5.91 per cent in March, taking the total base to 37.9 million.
