India is the world's second-largest mobile market，on the basis of the number of connections，but is crowded and debt-laden．Once a showpiece of India's services sector,the telecom industry has been damaged by several years of regulatory mismanagement under the previous，Indian National Congress-led government，characterised by corruption，tax disputes，and exorbitant fees． Most telecommunications companies in India are also burdened by large investments，and strained margins．Spectrum prices have also risen,and several spectrum permits are due to expire in 2015-16，rendering the situation acute for several operators．The market is ripe for consolidation during the forecast period． The Economist Intelligence Unit expects the number of mobile—phone subscriptions to nse by an average ot 7．4％a year in 2015-19，to reach more than 1．3bn．This follows growth of 40％a year in 2008-11．when mobile penetration rose from 30％to nearly 75％．Mobile penetration Will exceed lOO％ by 2019，although this compares unfavourably with rates in other major emerging markets，such as Brazil(over 150％)and China(over 130％)，suggesting that there is further long-term growth potential in the Indian market．

Telecommunications report 5

Mobile 5

Fixed 9

Internet 9

Industry publishing schedule 11

中国科学技术信息研究所