Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL) which operates in India as MTS India has reported 1.34 million data card subscribers for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 (Q4 2013), registering a 11% increase from 1.21 million subscribers in the previous quarter. Non-voice revenues which includes data and VAS revenues also increased quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to Rs 103 crore, up 5.2% from Rs 97.9 crore in the previous quarter. However, its contribution to MTS India’s total quarterly revenues was flat at 34.5% for the quarter, compared to 34.5% in the previous quarter. Highlights - Blended mobile ARPU increased by 2.8% to Rs 97 for the quarter, up from Rs 95 in the previous quarter, due to increase in usage minutes following improved quality of customer base. - Minutes of Use increased to 373 million minutes for the quarter, up 2.9% from 363 million minutes in the previous quarter. - MTS India's total mobile subscriber base was at 9.8 million connections for the quarter, registering a 2.2% QoQ growth from 9.6 million connections in the previous quarter. Sistema is currently operational in 9 of the 22 telecom circles in India which includes eight circles where it secured spectrum in the March 2013 spectrum auctions and Rajasthan circle which was unaffected by the Supreme Court judgment in 2012. It is probably the only telco in India which was focusing on the CDMA services in the country, with Tata Teleservices surrendering 20MHz CDMA spectrum in December 2013. However, Reliance Communications had mentioned earlier this year that it is renewing focus on its CDMA business now that its CDMA voice revenues…
