The number of broadband internet connections in Hungary grew by 15% in the first six months of this year, according to data published yesterday by the regulator, the National Telecommunications Authority (NHH). The number of xDSL subscribers climbed 1.74% to 695,000 and the number of cable connections rose 1.84% to 350,000 it said. The watchdog bases its data on figures gathered from the country’s five former concession holders, Magyar Telekom, Hungarotel, Emitel, Invitel and Monortel; alternative telcos PanTel, Tele2, GTS Datanet and eTel; and cable companies UPC, T-Kabel, Fibernet and EMKTV. Collectively, these companies account for between 85% and 90% of the total broadband market.
By contrast, the total number of fixed lines in services continues to fall. The NHH recorded a further 12,000 disconnections in June alone to 3.3 million by the end of the month. By the start of July the percentage of households with a landline was 65.64% compared with 66.29% at the start of this year. Users are also taking advantage of fixed number portability which was introduced at the start of 2004. 5,115 fixed line customers switched their service provider in June, to lift the 2007 total to 35,398. Overall, some 208,500 subscribers have switched service provider since the new legislation was introduced.