Press Releases

Romanian Users Increasingly Access Mobile Broadband Internet

12.12.2012

 

According to the data reported by the 951 active Internet access providers from Romania, the market of broadband Internet access services maintained the ascendant trend in almost all segments in the first half of 2012, with mobile Internet registering the most significant growth rate. The data gathered, aggregated and published today by the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) are available on its website, here.
The number of fixed broadband Internet access connections exceeded 3.4 million, standing for a half-yearly growth of 4.1% and for an annual growth of 9.1%, respectively. The most significant growth rates were registered by xDSL connections (5.4% annual increase, to almost 1 million connections), UTP/FTP cable connections (11.7% annual increase, to almost 1.9 million connections) and coaxial cable connections (8.4% annual increase, to 440,000 connections).
As well, it is worth mentioning that FTTx connections (over 3 million) account for 88.9% of the total fixed broadband Internet access connections. This type of connections employs fibre optic up to the end-user’s premises or a specific point in the proximity of the end-users’ premises, wherefrom the connection is achieved over other technologies (e.g. coaxial cable, radio, UTP/FTP cable, copper twisted metallic wires), and thus the operators are able to offer high Internet connection speeds.
The penetration rate of fixed broadband Internet access connections per 100 inhabitants reached 18% as of mid-2012, whereas the penetration rate per 100 households grew to 44%. Moreover, in the first half of 2012, the number of fixed connections installed to business users rose by 4% as compared to the same period of the previous year, and the connections installed to residential users registered an annual growth rate of 9.6%. Out of the 3.4 million fixed broadband Internet access connections reported by the middle of this year, more than 90% have been installed to residential users.
As well, a noteworthy increase in the number of connections installed in rural area was registered as of mid-2012, i.e. almost 0.8 million connections (+11.7% half-yearly growth, respectively +26.4% annual growth). In urban area, the number of connections registered a 2% half-yearly increase and, respectively, a 4.8% annual increase, reaching 2.6 million connections.
As regards the speed of fixed Internet connections, half of such connections used by residential subscribers are high-speed connections (at least 30 Mbps).
According to the data reported by the 6 providers of mobile Internet access services, the total number of active mobile broadband Internet access connections amounted to 6.9 million, up by 63.8% as compared to end-2011 and almost double as compared to the value registered at mid-2011. Thus, 5.6 million active mobile broadband connections achieved over mobile telephones and 1.3 million active mobile broadband connections achieved over modems/cards/dongles were reported. The total number of terminals/SIM cards allowing mobile Internet access over 3G (including 3G+), EV-DO, 4G or other technologies superior to 3G reached about 7.4 million as of 30 June 2012.
“Romanians are increasingly interested in mobile Internet and this is shown by the spectacular evolution registered in the number of connections achieved over mobile phones, against a monthly payment. Basically, in only one year, the total number of active mobile broadband Internet access connections almost doubled”,  Mr. Catalin Marinescu, the president of ANCOM, said.
The statistical data report was elaborated based on the data reported by the providers of Internet access services, which carried out commercial activities between 1 January and 30 June 2012, and is available for consultation here.
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