Indian GSM operators collectively added 10.32 million new subscribers in the month of October taking the subscriber base for such services to 355.25 million.

Vodafone Essar emerged as the operator with the highest number of new subscribers added. The company added 2.98 million subscribers taking its total base to 85.82 million. Airtel followed with additions of 2.7 million and subscriber base of 113.21 million at the end of October.

Aircel which has recently expanded into new circles recorded the highest growth rate in subscriber additions at 7.84% by adding 2 million subscribers. The company had added 1.3 million subscribers in September. Its total stands at 27.74 million.

BSNL however could not match its private counterparts and could add only 0.6 million subscribers in the month. Idea looks set to overtake BSNL in market share as it added 1.9 million new subscribers. Idea’s subscriber base is 53.35 million as compared to BSNL’s 53.96 million.

Circle-wise, Rajasthan grew fastest at a rate of 4.34 % followed by Bihar and UP (E) at 4.14%.