5.74 million Internet access subscriptions - first quarter 2003

The number of subscriptions to Internet access services rose to 5.74 million at the end of the first quarter of 2003, indicate data from the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM).

This figure is equivalent to an increase of 51% over the same quarter in 2002 and of 11% over the previous quarter.

The dial-up access mode continues to account for 95% of all registered accesses, and is by itself equivalent to 5.4 million service subscriptions.

However, broadband access (cable plus ADSL) was the mode presenting the most growth: 19% between the last quarter of the previous year and the first one of this year, and 154% year-on-year with respect to the first quarters of 2002 and 2003.

In the field of broadband accesses, 75% were assured by the cable operators by the end of March of this year, the result of 12% growth in the first quarter of this year over the previous quarter. However, growth rates have favoured access by ADSL, whose accesses increased by 47% in the same period.

The service penetration rate thus increased by 56% in the first quarter of 2003. In the same period of the previous year market penetration was at 37%. Considered separately, broadband access presented a penetration rate of 3%, as against 1% in the same quarter of 2002.

At the end of last March 51 entities were registered to provide Internet access services, of which 26 were providing service.

Consult:

Quarterly reports by service http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=277884