Purkayastha was addressing the four-day 40th GSM MoU plenary hosted by the India Interest Group, the Indian chapter of Ireland-based GSM MoU Association. Nearly 400 delegates from 125 countries representing the GSM cellular industry, have gathered for the event.

The communications ministry, Department of Telecommunications and global systems mobile (GSM) operators are working together to finalise a detailed plan to provide modern telecommunication facilities for nearly 300,000 villages in the country, said chairman of Cellular Operators Association of India TV Ramachandran. "GSM now accounts for more than 60 per cent of the world's total digital wireless market with 12 crore subscribers," said chairman Richard Midgett. Independent forecast for GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 networks show global customer levels climbing beyond 20 crore aswe enter the year 2000, nearing 30 crore by the close of that year and more than trebling today's figure to take it to 40 crore by the end of 2002," he added.

He attributed the achievement to several major factors including the rise of massive potential markets such as India, China and the America. In addition are the factors including the growth of pre-pay initiatives, the continued growth of market penetration in countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and South Africa, besides sustained development of the Asia pacific marketplace despite economic difficulties, he said.

Meanwhile, Comfone Limited, the joint venture between Swisscom and Vodafone, on Tuesday announced the launch of its international roaming solutions for India.

It has positioned itself as the most effective facilitator for international roaming by means of its global cellular service (GCS). This service allows connection of any GSM network to other similar networks for establishingcost-effective roaming without the need for end-to-end bilateral roaming agreements through international roaming platform (IRP) of Comfone.

Comfone has established over 50 agreements with GSM operators from all over the world. Nearly 200 roaming connections have been launched commercially, while another 200 plus roaming connections are being currently implemented. Comfone has already connected eight international GSM network operators via Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd to Essar Cellphone, to allow commercial roaming.