Increase in Internet, TV and fixed-line subscriptions reported for 2013

The telecommunications sector reported positive growth, according to a report published by the NSO earlier today.

Internet, Analogue and Digital TV Subscriptions

During the second quarter of 2014, internet broadband subscriptions grew by 5.5 per cent reaching 148,411.

High speed internet connections exceeding 10Mbps advanced by 18.1 per cent, reaching 136,068. In contrast, internet subscriptions with speeds ranging from 2 to 10Mbps decreased by 51.5 per cent. The internet subscription index as at the end of Quarter 2 stood at 159.5 per cent, increasing by 5.5 percentage points when compared with 2013 levels.

Television subscriptions totalled 149,158 and remained at par with last year’s levels. Digital subscriptions continued to dominate the market while analogue subscriptions dropped by 9.5 per cent when compared to the same quarter in 2013.

Telecommunications

The number of fixed telephone subscriptions as at the end of June reached 232,469 increasing by 1.1 per cent over 2013. Total fixed originating minutes to national networks dropped by 6.5 per cent, while minutes towards international networks decreased by 10.9 per cent.

Local originating mobile traffic increased by 11.7 per cent. Postive changes were recorded both towards fixed and mobile telephone networks - 5.8 and 12.3 per cent respectively. Meanwhile the number of SMS’s sent while roaming decreased by 9.2 per cent.

Post and Courier Services

Total postal traffic during the reference quarter decreased by 1.4 per cent: and stood at over 10 million items. Items received and dispatched by couriers totalled 179,944, an increase of 8.4 per cent over the previous year