Chapter 1   

Introduction 

1.0     Background 

Today, the country is witnessing tremendous growth in mobile wireless 

access segment, largely propelled by decreasing tariffs and increasing 

coverage. About 2 Million mobile wireless subscribers are being added every 

month, which translates in a monthly Tele density increase of 0.2. At the 

present growth rate, it is expected that there would be about 100 Million 

wireless subscribers by the end of 2005. 

Figure1: Growth of Mobile wireless subscribers 

Growth of Mobile subscribers

Mobile Subscribers

40

35

33.6

30

25

20

15

12.9

10

Subscriber Base (in Millions)

6.5

5

3.6

0

0.34

0.88

1.2

1.88

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

This trend of high wireless growth is a recent world wide phenomenon. While 

Mobile Tele density was 1/9

th

 of the total Tele density in 1995, it exceeded   

in 2003. 

Table 1: Fixed and Mobile Tele density worldwide 

Year 

1990 

1995 

2000 

2003 

Fixed Tele density 

9.90 

12.30 

16.38 

18.76 

Mobile Tele density 

0.19 

1.56 

12.34 

21.91 

Total Tele density 

10.09 

13.86 

28.72 

40.67 

Source: ITU Database 

While mobile has significantly accelerated the growth of Tele density, it has 

also raised the requirement for spectrum significantly. This has necessitated 

Governments / Regulatory Authorities to examine the issues linked with the 

2