Telecom Lead Middle East: Mobile subscribers in the UAE
increased 13 percent in the first quarter of 2012.
The country’s mobile penetration rate stood at 154 per
cent.
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said mobile
subscribers at the end of March amounted to 12.4 million, up from 11 million in
the same period a year ago.
Du said in May it is looking at mobile virtual network
operator, or MVNO, opportunities to expand its footprint for the first time
outside its home market.
Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat already operates in Saudi
Arabia, Egypt and Nigeria amongst other countries, Gulf News reported.
According to the latest TRA data, the number of post-paid
mobile subscribers reached 1.5 million by the end of the first quarter, while
pre-paid subscribers hit 10.9 million. Internet subscribers amounted to 904,270
at the end of March, down from 1.4 million in the same period a year ago.
Fixed-line telephone subscribers reached 1.9 million by
the end of the first quarter of 2012, up from 1.7 million in the same quarter
of 2011.
