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AT&T transfers exec to world's fastest growing mobile market

AT&T Inc., the nation's No. 1 telecoms company, has named Mark Shine as president of AT&T Communication Services India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Shine will lead AT&T's business development in India, the world's fastest growing mobile market. He will also head subsequent operations in the Indian wireless telecoms market, the company said.

The appointment was retroactive to Oct. 1, AT&T said in a statement. Mr. Shine relocated a few days ago from the United States to the Indian capital of New Delhi.

His appointment follows the recent announcement that Gopi Gopinath will be named chairman/CEO of AT&T Global Network Services India. Mr. Gopinath was appointed vice president of AT&T Asia-Pacific in January 2007.

Mr. Shine has 25 years of experience in the telecoms industry. Most recently, he was vice president of AT&T Global Sales Operations in Bedminster, NJ. He has worked in a variety of technology and telecoms enterprises, including wireless and terrestrial networking.

India is a strategic market for AT&T's global plans, which include providing Indian customers with mobile voice and data communication services to meet high demand in the country, Mr. Shine said in a press statement.

In October 2006, AT&T became the first global telecoms operator to secure national long distance and international long distance licenses in India through AT&T Global Network Services India, an AT&T joint venture. AT&T Global Network Services India began commercial services earlier this year.

Only a decade ago India struggled to meet the need for landlines with long waiting lists. Now, the country boasts 225 million mobile phone users, covering one-fifth of the country's population of 1.1 billion. Industry analysts say that India is the fastest growing mobile market, though it still trails China and the United States in the sheer number of users.