New Delhi–Idea Cellular reported a loss of Rs 478.9 crore for the third quarter of the current fiscal, a company statement said here on Saturday.

“The Indian mobile industry witnessed an unprecedented disruption in the quarter of October to December 2016, primarily due to free voice and mobile data promotions by the new entrant in the sector,” the statement said.

The company said the impact of free promotions was even more pronounced on mobile data business.

“Idea, for the first time, witnessed a decline of 5.5 million mobile data customers on sequential quarter basis with overall mobile data subscriber (2G+3G+4G) base receding to 48.6 million (vs 54.1 million in Q2FY17),” the statement added.