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 croreas we enter the year 2000, nearing 30 crore by year end.,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.