Communications and Information Technology Commission: 53 Million Mobile Communications Subscriptions by the End of 2015

The number of subscriptions to mobile communications services reached about 53 million by the end of 2015, remaining stable since 2014, while prepaid subscriptions exceeded approximately 84% of total subscriptions. The mobile communications penetration rate relative to population declined to about 167.5% due to population growth alongside a stable total number of subscriptions. The Commission's granting of mobile virtual network operator licenses contributed to improving service levels, increasing their diversity, expanding the telecom market, and providing subscribers with more options.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission stated in a press release today that the number of active telephone lines reached about 3.8 million lines, including about 2 million residential lines, equivalent to about 52% of total active lines, in addition to 1.8 million commercial lines, with a fixed-line penetration rate of 34% for households and a fixed-line penetration rate of about 12% relative to population. A decline was also observed in the number of fixed voice communications subscriptions over the past three years due to competition from mobile communications services, leading a number of subscribers to cancel their fixed telephone service and replace it with mobile communications services.