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Mobile phone subscriptions up by 15.1% in first quarter
As at the end of March subscriptions to all forms of communication technology, except for fixed telephony, registered increases when compared to 2011, with mobile telephone subscriptions up by 15.1%.
Mobile phone subscriptions have increased by 15.1% over the first quarter of 2012 with a mobile penetration rater of 124.1%, implying that a considerable number of individuals have more than one mobile phone
Mobile telephone subscriptions reached 521,764, up by 15.1% when compared to the previous year. Increases were recorded in both post-paid and pre-paid schemes.
The mobile penetration rate per 100 persons amounted to 124.1%, implying that a considerable number of individuals have more than one mobile account.
Increases were recorded in local originating mobile traffic, both towards fixed and mobile telephone networks - 11.5 and 28.0 respectively.
An increase was registered in all outbound roaming activities. In contrast, inbound roaming activities decreased by 13.7% in total outgoing minutes, while total incoming visitor minutes rose by 17.1% compared with the corresponding quarter last year.
Fixed telephone subscriptions totalled 228,406, down by 5.9% over quarter 1 of 2011. During the reference period, total fixed originating minutes to national and international networks went down by 0.1 and 20.3% respectively. On the other hand, total fixed originating minutes to national networks between fixed and mobile telephone lines increased by 14.4%.
During the first quarter this year, broadband subscriptions grew by 5.8% reaching 130,189. No active narrowband (dial-up) internet or broadband subscriptions of less than 144 kbps were recorded. There was also a sharp rise in subscriptions with bandwidths greater than 10 Mbps, while broadband internet connections between 2 Mbps and 10 Mbps decreased by 35%. The internet subscription index as at the end of March stood at 140.6.
Television subscriptions numbered 146,231, edging up 0.3% over 2011. Digital subscriptions dominated the market with a share of 93.5%. Analogue subscriptions continued declining as in previous years, reaching 9,529 - 25.2% less than last year.
Total postal traffic for the reference quarter amounted to almost 10.5 million items, decreasing by 0.6% when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2011. Total parcels and other items were recorded at 21,326 - a decrease of 7% when compared to last year.
Items received and dispatched by couriers totalled 152,633 - up by 8.1% when compared to the corresponding quarter last year
