FierceWirelessFierceWirelessEuropeFierceDeveloperFierceMobileContentFierceBroadbandWirelessFierceEnterpriseCommunicationsFierceIPTVFierceTelecomFierceOnlineVideoFierceCable
Related Topics >> subscriber base | Telecom Sector | Reuters

Research and Markets: Emerging Rural Mobile Telephony Market in India

Tools

Posted October 21, 2011

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/efebae/emerging_rural_mob) has announced the addition of the "Emerging Rural Mobile Telephony Market in India" report to their offering.

Globalization has made telecommunication an integral part of the infrastructure of the Indian economy. The telecom sector in India has developed as a result of a progressive regulatory regime. Telecommunications is one of the few sectors in India that has witnessed the most fundamental structural and institutional reforms since 1991. It has come a long way from having 5.07 million subscribers in 1991 to being the world's second-largest market with a subscriber base 840.28 million by the end of May 2011.

Interestingly, more than 40% of these new subscribers are from rural areas. The current tele-density of the Indian rural mobile sector is close to 33% and the government is seeking to achieve a rural tele-density of 50% by 2012. Moreover, private telecom operators are also targeting rural India to expand their business. For instance, Samsung, which has a distribution tie-up with Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative Ltd (IFFCO), is also looking at collaborations with microfinance companies and self help groups to increase penetration. The company is growing upwards of 60% in the smaller markets. Further, Nokia is running a pilot project to sell handsets through SKS Microfinance in the district of Andhra Pradesh. It is about to launch SMS-based mobile information-based services revolving around agriculture, education and entertainment in rural Maharasthra. Nokia is partnering Reuters Market Light to provide data on weather, prices of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides as well as prevailing market prices to farmers.

The initiatives by the private players will therefore increase the number of rural mobile subscribers rapidly - as will increased customer awareness, mobile affordability, low tariff plans, etc.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/efebae/emerging_rural_mob



CONTACT:

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

KEYWORDS:   Asia Pacific  India

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Telecommunications  Mobile/Wireless

MEDIA:

Logo
Logo

More stories about subscriber base   Telecom Sector   Reuters