Broadband growth drives market says ANRC chief

Romania’s National Regulatory Authority for Communications (ANRC) has declared that broadband internet is still driving the country’s telecoms markets. The number of broadband accesses increased 60% in the first half of 2006, from 750,000 to 1.2 million, with the penetration rate going from 3.5% to 5.5%. There were 1,100 registered internet service providers at the end of June 2006, up 17% on the end of 2005. Mobile telephony is also witnessing strong growth, with total subscribers rising from 13 million in December 2005 to 14.9 million at 30 June, while the fixed line market saw a more modest rise, from 4.39 million lines to 4.42 million.