Increase in telecommunications subscriptions during third quarter

As at the end of September, internet, TV and fixed telephone subscription indices registered increases over the corresponding period in 2013.

During the third quarter of 2014, internet broadband subscriptions grew by 6.7 per cent, reaching 151,452.

High speed internet connections exceeding 10Mbps advanced by 19.7 per cent, reaching 140,718. In contrast, internet subscriptions with speed ranging from 2 to 10Mbps decreased by 56.0 per cent.

The internet subscription index as at the end of Quarter 3 stood at 162.7 per cent, increasing by 6.7 per cent when compared to 2013 levels.

Television subscriptions totalled 149,394, marginally higher when compared to the previous year’s levels. Digital subscriptions continued to dominate the market, while analogue subscriptions dropped by 9.4 per cent when compared to the same quarter in 2013.

The number of fixed telephone subscriptions reached 232,213 by the end of September 2014, increasing by 0.6 per cent over 2013. Total fixed originating minutes to national networks dropped by 6.1 per cent, while minutes towards international networks decreased by 2.7 per cent.

Positive changes were recorded in local originating mobile traffic. Increases of 2.1 and 9.6 per cent were recorded towards fixed and mobile telephone networks respectively. Meanwhile the number of SMSs sent while roaming decreased by 6.1 per cent.

Total postal traffic during the reference quarter decreased by 0.9 per cent to over 9.1 million items. Items received and dispatched by couriers totalled 174,440, an increase of 10.9 per cent over the previous year.