Samsung Eyeing 5 Percent Rise in India Smartphone Market Share This Year

South Korean technology major Samsung on Monday said it is eyeing a 5 percent rise in its overall market share in smartphones in the Indian market this year on the back of new launches. "Last year we saw a 42 percent market share by value and 37 percent by volume in overall smartphones (as per market research firm GfK). With new launches, we are sure that at an overall level, we would be able to gain around 5 percent share in 2018," Samsung India Senior Vice-President Mohandeep Singh told PTI in Mumbai.

The domestic smartphone industry was pegged at Rs. 80,000 crores in 2017, as per GfK. The company on Monday launched new phones in its Galaxy range - Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6, and Galaxy A6+, priced between Rs. 13,990 and Rs. 25,990. The Samsung Galaxy J6, Galaxy A6, and Galaxy A6+ are available to buy in the country from today, while the Galaxy J8 will be available from June 20 onwards.

The price segment of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 is the largest in the country in terms of value and volume for smartphones, and is also the fastest growing category. This segment grew by 34 percent last year and within that, Samsung grew by 42 percent, according to GfK.

"With these phones that we are launching, we will further consolidate our share in this most important and fastest growing segment. These phones will give us competitive share against competition in the market," Singh said. He further said the adoption of smartphones is increasing in smaller towns due to low data costs and good 4G network.