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India mobile phone sales to top 138 million in 2010

Sales of mobile phones in India are predicted to reach 138.6 million in 2010, rising 18 per cent from the 117 million units sold in 2009, research company Gartner has revealed.

Information compiled by Gartner shows that the market has been buoyed by new carriers and new manufacturers, increasing competition and pushing down call rates and handset costs.

The figures mean the India now accounts for 10 per cent of all global mobile phone sales, which has led to a surge in manufacturers that means the market now offers a choice of more than 50 different brands.

Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner, said the market was now progressing into the next phase.

"Cellular phone penetration in India stood at 45 per cent in 2009, and the market is now entering into a second phase of growth, with replacement sales increasing from 45 per cent in 2009 to 50 per cent of total sales in 2010," he said.

"The move to high-speed 3G networks is bringing in more challenges in terms of innovation and keeping up with fast changing consumer demand. Shortening product life cycle times and declining sales of voice-centric devices will bring changes to the market during the next five years."