The country’s Very Small Aperture Terminal or the VSAT sector has showcased meek performance in the third quarter ended December 2008, as it reported a meager growth of 0.63 percent as compared to 5.08 percent in quarter ended September, 2008.

While signing on 599 new subscribers, the total VSAT subscriber pool of the country stood at 95,035 in December 08 from its earlier 94,436 in September 2008.

Out of the total nine VSAT service providers operating in the country, the market leader M/s Hughes Communication Limited with a market share 29.28 percent, continued to hold on to its position, despite of a negative growth of 6.22 percent that pushed its total VSAT base down by 1,845 units at 27,825. But when the combined subscriber base of Bharti Airtel and subsidiary Bharti Broadband are considered i.e. 30,655, then Bharti Airtel emerges to be the new leader in the VSAT landscape in India.

Trialing closely, is M/s HCL Comnet with a market share of 26.97 percent and 25,635 VSAT subscribers.

Much to the surprise of everyone, M/s BSNL fared with the highest growth rate of 15.16 percent in this quarter, while VSAT service provider ITI on the other hand stood out for its worst performance that included the lowest negative growth rate of 17.78 percent at the end of the third quarter.

Others like GNFC gave a static report with its subscriber base remaining unchanged.

Besides, other players in the sector include Bharti Broadband, Essel Shyam, and Tatanet Services.