As at the end of June 2009, subscriptions to all forms of communication technology increased. Postal traffic totalled 10.8 million items.
Telecommunications
During the quarter under review, the number of mobile telephone subscriptions reached 405,465. Subscriptions to post-paid schemes were recorded at 74,696, while pre-paid scheme subscriptions stood at 330,769. Therefore, as at the end of June the mobile penetration rate per 100 persons in the population stood at 97.7 per cent. Both local originating mobile traffic and outbound roaming experienced an increase compared to the corresponding period in 2008. On the other hand, a decrease was registed in the number of SMSs and MMSs sent.
The fixed-telephone subscription index increased by 10.6 per cent from 113.3 in 2008 Q2 to 125.3 in the comparable quarter this year. Total fixed originating minutes to the national network amounted to around 169.2 million. Around 15.4 million minutes were consumed towards an international network. Internet, Analogue and Digital Subscriptions
The internet subscription index rose by 11.7 per cent from 132.0 as at the end of June 2008 to 147.4 as at the end of the equivalent quarter in 2009. Out of every 100 persons, 26 had an internet subscription. Whilst, the number of active narrowband (dial-up) subscriptions decreased by 67.9 per cent, the number of broadband users increased by 12.0 per cent when compared to the same period last year. At the end of June 2009, 88.9 per cent of broadband subscribers had a connection speed of more than or equal to 144 kbps, but less than 10 Mbps. Pay TV subscriptions index increased by 10.1 per cent. Analogue and digital television subscriptions were recorded at 96.9 per cent of households. Digital subscriptions amounted to 68.7 per cent of the overall subscriptions.
Post and Couriers
Total postal traffic for the second quarter of 2009 amounted to around 10.8 million items, of which the absolute bulk represented letters and other printed items.
In the same reference period, courier traffic totalled 71,535 items, of which 45.9 per cent were letters or documents, and the rest parcels