The number of fixed broadband internet connections in Romania increased by 7.9% y/y to 3.5mn at the end of 2012 and the penetration rate rose 3.3pps to 45.2% for households, telecom regulatory body ANCOM reported. The penetration rate per 100 inhabitants increased by 1.4pps to 18.6%.

Out of the 3.5mn, connections some 3.2mn were to individuals and the remaining 0.34mn to legal entities. The growth rates for individuals and legal entities were pretty similar, close to the 7.9% y/y average.

The expansion is steeper in rural areas, where however the penetration rate remains significantly below the average. Thus, in the rural areas – where some 45% of the population lives, only 0.9mn connections [26% of the total] were installed. Nonetheless, the growth rate was 22.2% - compared to only 3.9% rise in the number of connections in urban areas.  

In regard to the technology used, 88.9% [3.15mn connections] use optic fibre FTTx to the proximity of the final user – which allows the delivery of fast data transfer services irrespective of the choice for the final loop.

The fixed-line telecoms services, on the opposite, declined in 2012. The number of lines declined by 5.4% y/y to 4.43mn. The number of subscribers [who can own more than one line] decreased by 0.6% y/y to 4.01mn. The volume of traffic delivered by fixed-line telephony decreased even steeper, by 8.8% y/y to 5.4bn minutes in 2012.