India's cellular subscribers base rose to 11.16 million in January 2003 from 10.48 million in the previous month, registering a growth of 6.4 per cent.

In the first month of the calender year, the monthly additions of cellular subscriber stood at 6,82,711 according to the latest subscriber data released by Cellular Operators Association of India in New Delhi on Thursday.

The lucurative circle of Delhi saw the subscriber base rising to 1.7 million during January compared to 1.67 in the previous month.

Bharti led the race here, with a subscriber base of 850,000, while Hutchison-Essar was at 584,000, MTNL at 129,000 and the newest entrant IDEA at 142,000, during the period in reference.

In Mumbai, Hutchison Max maintained its lead over three other players clocking 635,000 subscribers in January, while BPL Mobile's customer base was at 593,000, MTNL's at 111,000 and that of Bharti Cellular at 220,000.

The subscriber base of all the four metros combined stood at 4.16 million, with Chennai and Kolkata logging 429,000 and 460,000 users respectively as on January, 2003.