Cell operators rush to verify users

With the deadline for pre-paid subscriber verification nearing, cellular service providers are in a hurry to complete the process. So far, they have collectively authenticated 67.21 per cent of the total customers. Among the operators, Tata Teleservices tops the charts with 97.85 per cent verification, while state-owned MTNL lags with a meagre 15.20 per cent.

The Department of Telecommunications has set March 31 as the deadline and thereafter it may impose a penalty of Rs 1,000 per unverified user. DoT has categorically stated that it would not extend the deadline. The Indian telecom sector has around 150 million subscribers, including 80 per cent pre-paid users.

According to the data compiled by Apex Advisory Council for Telecom in India, as on January 19, 2007, Reliance Telecom follows TTSL with 84.78 per cent verification and Bharti Airtel in third position with 75.26 per cent.

The apex body of both CDMA and GSM operators has ranked MTNL as the lowest besides Spice Telecom (with 24.94 per cent) and Idea Cellular (48.07 per cent).

When contacted, MTNL officials said that the company would complete the process before the deadline.