India Telecom

January 22, 2003
Mixed response to impact of WLL on GSM

HARYANA -- GSM users in Kolkata have shown the maximum inclination to try WLL in a recently conducted study among cellular users in top 10 cities. As high as 45 percent of GSM users in Kolkata are "highly willing" to try WLL, against the average of 21 percent at the overall level [all 10 cities put together].

Thiruvananthapuram follows Kolkata (at 40 percent) and Ahmedabad (at 29 percent). The percentage of "highly willing" respondents is at a low of 18 percent, 20 percent and 14 percent in other metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Only 2.5 percent GSM users are willing to try WLL in Chandigarh -- the lowest among all cities.

WLL as a concept is familiar with 59 percent of the respondents across top 10 cities. Hyderabad tops the list in terms of awareness, with 91 percent of GSM users of this city are aware of it. Delhi (71 percent) follows Hyderabad in awareness, as probably, the presence of Tata Teleservices in these two cities mattered. Chandigarh (24 percent) and Thiruvananthapuram (32 percent) ranked at the end of the list in terms of awareness of WLL among GSM users.

Awareness is found to be highest among GSM users in the age bracket of 26 to 30 years. The older groups though low on awareness, show maximum inclination toward trying this new service.

Lion's share from new connections
Parijat Chakraborty, head, Telecom Research Group, IDC (India) Ltd., says: "The lion share of business for WLL is expected to come from growth (new connections) and not from churns. Cost effectiveness of the service is going to be the key motivator for WLL. However, the top end and high profile GSM users would not follow the rank and file immediately."