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BSNL top ISP in FY 2003-04
P VINOD KUMAR / Chennai
THE state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), which finished a distant fourth
in fiscal 2002-03, has risen to the number one position in the Internet service
market in 2003-04. The public sector Internet service provider (ISP) has pipped
both its public sector cousin Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and private
sector companies Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) and Sify to the post to become
the largest ISP during the year ended March 2004.
According to the latest numbers published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority
of India, BSNL has a live subscriber base of 11,28,172 as of March 31, 2004,
up from 4,45,992 subscribers in fiscal 02-03. VSNL, which was the top ISP in
fiscal 02-03 with a subscriber base of 7,00,558, was relegated to the fourth
position with its total user base shrinking to 6,00,509 in fiscal 03-04. Even
if one clubs VSNL numbers with Dishnet DSL’s subscriber base—which
it took over a couple of months back—the tally adds up to 8,65,140, elevating
the new entity to the second position among ISPs.
MTNL, which was the third-largest ISP in fiscal 02-03, dislodged Sify to finish
runner-up with a total subscriber base of 7,69,434. Sify has slipped to the
third slot with a user base of 6,58,192. It had a user base of 6,17,324 during
fiscal 2002-03.
According to industry sources, the ISP market finally came out of its slumber
and grew at a healthy double-digit rate during the last fiscal.
— Financial Express
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