Mobile Number Portability hits BSNL, MTNL subscribers base
It will be quite harsh to say that the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system has backfired for the government. But if the reports and figures are anything to go by, the government has been financially hit hard after the launch of the system. The two state-run telecom companies Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) have lost millions of subscribers to the private telecom companies.
The latest figures released by the government say that so far nearly 9.33 lakh BSNL subscribers have switched to private players using the MNP. The number of customers joining the BSNL network remains as low as 3.49 lakhs. Thus, the total loss incurred by BSNL is more than 5.84 lakh subscribers.
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The MTNL has no different story to tell. The network that operates in Delhi and Mumbai circles lost 67,198 subscribers to private players, while only 11,593 joining the network. The net outgo is of 55,605 subscribers.
It may be recalled that the BSNL was once number one mobile operator in the country. But over the years the company regularly lost its subscribers base to the private players. With 9.28 crore subscribers, the BSNL stands at the fifth position in the market led by Bharti Airtel. The BSNL owns a mere 11 percent of market share, while Airtel has nearly 20 percent market share with 16.70 crore subscribers.
And the most notable fact is that Airtel is increasing its subscribers base every month unlike the BSNL that is ending in red every month. According to reports, Airtel is adding whopping 25 lakh customers every month.
The figures clearly show the dismal performance of the state-run telecom companies. The private players, on the other hand, rose well enough in the meantime. The BSNL and MTNL saw a rapid dip in their landline subscribers soon after the mobile revolution started peaking 6-7 years ago. And now the MNP is apparently not helping much.
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