Andhra Pradesh added most GSM-based cellular phone subscriptions among the four southern states in June and was second only to Maharashtra nationally, according to figures released by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). There were 6,08,233 new GSM connections in the state last month, nearly 1.5 lakh more than Karnataka, which emerged second with 4,58,834 new subscribers in June. Tamil Nadu, excluding Chennai region, and Kerala added 2,67,285 and 2,82,599 new connections, respectively, in the same month.
According to COAI figures, 46,36,371 new GSM connections were added across the country in June, taking the total national figure to 67,73,53,977. Among other states, only Maharashtra, with 6,21,124 subscribers, added more new GSM connections in June this year.
More people also hooked on to the GSM network in AP last month compared to the other four states in the region, recording a 1.22-per cent jump, a figure it shared with Maharashtra. According to COAI, as of June this year, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of GSM subscribers in the country — 9,83,77,366. Among the four southern states, Tamil Nadu has the healthiest ratio of GSM subscribers to the state’s total population, registering 3 connections for every 4 persons. Andhra Pradesh had 3 GSM connections for every 5 persons, while for the entire country, it is a little more than 1 connection for every 2 persons.