[icernet] Net Subscriber Base Dips From Q3 To Touch 3.9 M

[Arul Selvan]

The Internet subscriber base in the country is down to 3.9 million 
subscribers in the last quarter of the fiscal ending March 2003, from 
over 4 million in the previous quarter ending December 2002, according 
to the latest estimates. According to sources close to the department of 
telecommunications (DoT), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) had over 
6.8 lakh subscribers in the fourth quarter. Sify accounted for 6.1 lakh 
subscribers, a marginal increase from third quarter (6 lakh). MTNL and 
BSNL accounted for 4.93 lakh and 3.68 lakh subscribers in the last 
quarter. As compared to the last fiscal ending March 2002, the subcriber 
base has grown from 3.4 million to 3.9 million, up by 1.47 per cent. As 
per department of telecommunications (DoT), a total of 573 ISP licences 
were given out. However, the latest DoT report shows that 173 ISPs 
surrendered their licences.

Source:
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=32582