Telekom Austria Mobile Subscriber Base Nudged 18 Million in 2008

Telekom Austria has reported that its mobile Communication customer base grew by 15.2% in 2008 from 15.4 million customers at the end of 2007 to 17.8 million customers at the end of 2008, with all mobile operations contributing to this subscriber growth.

mobilkom austria, recorded 140,500 net adds during the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to 105,600 during the same period of the previous year. mobilkom austria was able to expand its overall subscriber base by 13.6% to 4.5 million customers in 2008. The contract subscriber base increased by 19.0%. mobilkom austria was able to increase its market share from 40.3% at the end of 2007 to 42.4% at the end of 2008 recording the highest growth in market share in the history of the company. The mobile penetration rate in Austria stood at 126.6% at year-end 2008.

Bulgaria's Mobiltel reached a total of 202,500 net adds in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to 284,900 in the fourth quarter of 2007. The subscriber base amounted to 5.4 million customers at year-end 2008, an increase of 5.8% compared to the end of the previous year. Mobiltel's market share remained stable at 50.0% at the end of 2008. The mobile penetration rate reached 142.1% in Bulgaria.

Velcom, the second largest mobile operator in Belarus, grew its customer base by 20.9% from 3.1 million customers at year-end 2007 to 3.7 million at the end of 2008. Velcom's market share increased to 44.8% at the end of December 2008 compared from 43.4% at the end of December 2007. The mobile penetration rate amounted to 85.1% in Belarus.

Vipnet, the second largest mobile operator in Croatia, increased its subscriber base by 14.1% to 2.5 million customers at year-end 2008. 114,600 net adds were acquired during the fourth quarter 2008 compared to 102,600 customers in the fourth quarter of the previous year underlining the strong Christmas business. Vipnet's market share decreased slightly and reached 42.2% at the end of the fourth quarter 2008. The mobile penetration rate was 133.6% in Croatia.

Si.mobil, the second largest mobile operator in Slovenia, increased its customer base by 14.7% to 570,600 customers as of year-end 2008. Si.mobil recorded 18,400 net additions during the fourth quarter 2008 compared to 17,400 net adds in the same period of the previous year. Si.mobil further strengthened its market share, which rose from 26.9% to 27.7%. Mobile penetration rate amounted to 102.7% in Slovenia at the end of 2008 compared to 92.2% at the end of 2007.

Vip mobile, the third largest mobile operator in the Republic of Serbia, increased its subscriber base by 78.4% to 907,900 customers in 2008 compared to 508,900 subscribers at year-end 2007 and had a market share of 9.1% at the end of 2008. The mobile penetration rate reached 132.9% in the Republic of Serbia at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.

Vip operator, the third largest mobile operator in the Republic of Macedonia, had 242,000 customers at year-end 2008 compared to 141,200 subscribers at the end of 2007, which corresponds to an increase of 71.4%. Vip operator grew its market share from 7.9% at the end of 2007 to 10.7% at the end of 2008. As of December 31, 2008 the mobile penetration rate increased strongly from 87.4% to 112.3% in the Republic of Macedonia.

Posted to the site on 16th January 2009