Rise in mobile, internet and cable TV subscriptions

The number of mobile telephone subscriptions in March this year reached 311,197, an increase of 58,527 or 23.2 per cent over the same quarter last year, the National Statistics Office said.

As a result, the subscriptions amounted to over 78 per 100 of the population, up from around 36 just two years ago.

The number of internet subscriptions went up by 14,072 or 25.5 per cent over the same period last year, to 69,295.

This is equivalent to 17.4 per 100 persons compared to 14.6 a year earlier.

At 96,240, the number of cable television subscriptions edged upwards by 6.5 per cent when compared to the first quarter last year, the NSO said.

The ratio of these subscriptions per 100 of the population rose to 24.2 from 22.9 a year ago.

The NSO said the growth in cable television subscriptions improved when compared to the previous quarter.

At the same time, the number of satellite receiver licences went up by 5,036 or 44.5 per cent when compared to the first quarter last year.

This means there are now 4.1 satellite receivers per 100 of the population.

In the period under review, declines were recorded in the number of pager subscriptions and in the number of two-way radio licences, the NSO said.