Telecommunication subscriber network records 36 percent growth

A telecommunication tower

There was outstanding growth in the Telecommunication sector during the past few years, according to the Central Bank report. Extraordinary growth was recorded in technological development, capacity and coverage.

The growth in the telecommunication sector was due to the increased competitiveness among new service providers, while expanding their coverage and reducing the initial cost up to an affordable level while moving towards an innovative technology in the sector.

A 36 percent growth was recorded last year and expansion of wireless connections increased due to the use of GSM and CDMA (Cord Division Multiple Access) technology that has integrated many rural customers. Therefore, there was a 26 percent increase in the fixed line telephone network. Compared with 2007 the mobile telephone network increased by 39 percent while the mobile phone density (the number of mobile phone connections as a percentage of population in the country) increased by 59 percent.

It is surpassing other countries in the region. The telephone density in the country increased from 54 percent to 72 percent last year. At the end of last year there were four fixed line operators, four mobile service providers, 33 external gateway operators and 20 internet service providers in the telecommunication sector. HP