According to official figures of telecom subscribers released by government, the total number of phones in all categories -- basic and cellular -- stood at 9.72 crore (97.2 million) in February this year.
The government also announced that MTNL subscribers of GSM mobile service would be exempted from paying roaming charges while they were in BSNL's network.
"Dolphin and Trump (MTNL's postpaid and pre-paid services) customers need not pay roaming charges while roaming on the BSNL network," an official release said.
According to the release, about 86 per cent of the additional 2.06 crore (20.6 million) phones during the year were cellular. Private sector continues to play a major role accounting for nearly 78 per cent of the expansion during the 11 months of 2004-05.
In the rural areas, only state-run BSNL has provided basic telephones and Village Public Telephones, it said adding as against 6.92 lakh basic connections provided in rural areas during 2003-04 (April-February), BSNL has provided 9.97 lakh telephones during the same period.
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