India targets 500 mn mobile subscribers by 2010

KOCHI: Given the explosive growth in mobile communications, India through its use of variety of wireless technologies is aiming to reach 500 million subscribers by 2010.

Its current level of 240 million will be doubled within less than two years thanks to the policies being implemented by the Union Government especially universal access in rural and suburban areas, B K Syngal, Former Chairman, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) told a conference on 'Connecting Rural communities Asia forum 2008' here.

'India is well on its way to becoming the largest telecom market after China.However, we cannot be complacent,' he said. ABout 70 per cent of the Indian population was in semiurban and rural areas and 60 per cent of the Indian population was employed in agriculture.

'We are growing at the rate of seven to eight million consumers a month. The appetite for cellular connection is going up not down', he said.