India drives WorldSpace's global growth

Almost two-thirds of the customers of WorldSpace, the US-based satellite radio broadcaster, are in India and the number is growing.

At the end of 2005, WorldSpace, which offers its services in more than 130 countries, had 115,306 subscribers, out of whom 74,574 or 64.67 per cent were in India. The subscriber growth in India in the last quarter of the year also surpassed the broadcaster's overall subscriber growth.

While WorldSpace India's subscriber base grow 100 per cent in the last quarter, the global subscriber base grew 53.5 per cent in the period. The phenomenal success has prompted the company to sign on A R Rahman as its brand ambassador.

"His stature as the future of Indian music fits perfectly with WorldSpace as we set out to define the future of radio in India and extend the service to music lovers across genres," said Shishir Lall, managing director, WorldSpace India.

The company plans to invest $150 million in the country over the next two years.