The mobile user base of BSNL and MTNL has been continously increasing from 2008 to 2012

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Kapil Sibal, minister of communications and IT has stated that the mobile base of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited has increased over the last four years.

Both the operators have registered continuous growth in their subscriber base over the last four financial years – 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. BSNL and MTNL’s subscriber base increased from 46.71 million and 4.18 million respectively in March 2009 to 94.51 million and 5.59 million respectively in March 2012.

According to Sibal, both the operators are facing major issues pertaining to quality services (QoS). However, both are undertaking measures to address such issues and by and large are meeting the QoS benchmark laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

Further, both companies have undertaken several measures to increase their subscriber base, such as organising consumer retention camps, monitoring of QoS parameters, and improving customer care services among others.