Revenues of private GSM operators recorded a year-on-year growth of 39 per cent

Revenues of private GSM operators recorded a year-on-year growth of 39 per cent to Rs 44.6 billion even as the average revenue per user (ARPU) declined to Rs 370 for the third quarter ended December 2005, according to a report released by the COAI.

While the third quarter witnessed the sharpest sequential rise in revenues at 11 per cent, ARPUs stayed almost flat, showing only a marginal 1 per cent decline over the previous quarter. The Hutchison Essar Group had the highest ARPU among the private operators at Rs 422.22 followed by Bharti Tele Ventures at Rs 406.03. Idea Cellular was third with an ARPU of Rs 342.78.