19.5 mln mobile subscribers in SL, says TRC
Mobile subscriber numbers have risen, to 19,533,274 in June 2013, from 19,335,733 in March 2013, according to statistics released by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) of Sri Lanka on August 21.
This uptake in mobile subscriber numbers follows a significant drop between 2012 and March 2013, from 20,324,070 to 19,335,733, respectively, that the TRC now attributes to a change in the definition of mobile subscribers, which currently disregards a mobile SIM account that has not received or made a phone call, SMS, etc. over a three month period.
According to H.W.K. Indrajith, the Deputy Director / Competition (Infrastructure and Sector Analysis) of the TRC, who confirmed the new definition to the Business Times, this situation applies only to the mobile subscribers. Additionally, a continuing downward trend, in terms of fixed lines in the June 2013 statistics, where fixed line users are numbered at 2,795,688, compared to 2,832,464 in March 2013, and 3,449,391 in 2012, is also apparent in the statistics, commented Mr. Indrajith. The highpoint for fixed line users, according to published statistics, was 2011 with 3,608,392.
Meanwhile, TRC statistics also showed that, compared to the March 2013 quarter, the number of Internet and email subscribers (fixed) rose by about 2,000, to 437,725, while Internet and email subscribers (mobile) dropped by more than 30,000 to 1,037,901.
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