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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A man talks on his mobile phone at the entrance of a China Mobile booth in Beijing.

Three mobile operators from China saw double-digit subscriber growth over the last year, according to the latest Wireless Intelligence 'Scoreboard' ranking.

The new 'Scoreboard' tracks the top 20 global operator groups by connections based on majority-owned assets in Q2 2012. Minority holdings (less than 50 percent plus one share) are excluded from the analysis.

Three Indian companies are listed among the world's top 20 mobile operators.

Take a look at the world's largest mobile operators...

1. China Mobile (China)

China Mobile continued its lead as the world's largest operator group, growing connections by 11 per cent year-on-year to 683.1 million.

Two of its domestic rivals moved up the ranking compared to a year ago - and all three now feature in the top ten for the first time.

Connections: 683.08 million
YoY Growth, connections: 11%
Mobile Revenue: $22.05 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

An employee talks on mobile phone inside a Vodafone store in Agartala.

2. Vodafone Group (United Kingdom)

Connections: 386.88 million
YoY Growth, connections: 5%
Mobile Revenue: $13.92 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

America Movil Group (United States)

Connections: 251.83 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $7.98 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A man touches a screen on a Bharti Airtel advertisement billboard during the launch ceremony for 4G services in Kolkata.

4. Bharti Airtel Group (India)

Connections: 250.04 million
YoY Growth, connections: 13%
Mobile Revenue: $3.04 bn

Bharti Airtel was the only other member of the top ten to move up the ranking, recording a 13 percent year-on-year rise in connections and leapfrogging Telefonica to become the world's fourth-largest operator group in Q2.

However, Bharti's US$3.04 billion in mobile revenue in Q2 2012 is significantly lower than the four other operators in the top five, reflecting Bharti's presence in the ultra low-cost, low-margin Indian and African markets, says Wireless Intelligence.

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A man checks his phone outside Telefonica headquarters in Madrid.

Telefonica Group (Spain)

Connections: 243.51 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $11.40 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

Security guards ride past a China Unicom office in Beijing.

China Unicom (China)

Connections: 219.25 million
YoY Growth, connections: 21%
Mobile Revenue: $4.95 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

VimpelCom Group (Russia)
(includes Orascom group)

Connections: 205.05 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $4.58 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A man talks on a mobile phone in front of an advertisement for Reliance Communications in Mathura.

Reliance Communications (India)

Connections: 154.60 million
YoY Growth, connections: 8%
Mobile Revenue: $0.48 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A visitor rests under a Telenor Group sign at the GSMA Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.

Telenor Group (Norway)

Connections: 152.74 million
YoY Growth, connections: 24%
Mobile Revenue: $2.55 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

Wang Xiaochu,Chairman and CEO, China Telecom.

China Telecom (China)

Connections: 144.18 million
YoY Growth, connections: 33%
Mobile Revenue: $3.37 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A man speaks on a mobile phone as he walks past a MTN shop at a shopping mall south of Johannesburg.

MTN Group (South Africa)

Connections: 136.59 million
YoY Growth, connections: 14%
Mobile Revenue: $3.85 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A woman makes a phone call in a France Telecom phone box in Nice, southern France.

France Telecom Group (France)

Connections: 133.38 million
YoY Growth, connections: 57%
Mobile Revenue: $7.18 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

An employee of PT Telekomunikasi Satelit (Telkomsel) holds a customer's mobile phone at a service outlet in Jakarta.

Telkomsel Gr (Indonesia)

Connections: 117.24 million
YoY Growth, connections: 15%
Mobile Revenue: $1.43 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

Idea Cellular (India)

Connections: 117.16 million
YoY Growth, connections: 15%
Mobile Revenue: $1 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

Sistema Group (Russia)
(Includes MTS Group)

Connections: 114.51 million
YoY Growth, connections: 3%
Mobile Revenue: $2.54 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

Chris Gates, assistant manager at a Verizon Wireless store, holds the new Verizon iPhones at his store in Boca Raton, Florida.

Verizon Wireless

Connections: 111.37 million
YoY Growth, connections: 5%
Mobile Revenue: $15.78 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

Deutsche Telekom Group (Germany)

Connections: 107.86 million
YoY Growth, connections: 2%
Mobile Revenue: $8.38 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

AT&T (United States)

Connections: 105.21 million
YoY Growth, connections: 7%
Mobile Revenue: $14.77 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

A Telecom Italia phone booth is seen in downtown Milan.

Telecom Italia (Italy)

Connections: 101.10 million
YoY Growth, connections: 16%
Mobile Revenue: $4.10 bn

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World's largest mobile operators, Bharti Airtel is No.4

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 08:41 IST

BSNL (India)

Connections: 98.28 million
YoY Growth, connections: 5%
Mobile Revenue: $0.44 bn