Latest statistics released by the communications regulator (CCK) revealed that the number of mobile subscribers in the country has increased to 29.2 million between January and March 2012, up from 28.08 million in December last year. This has resulted in 89.10 per cent of the population having access to mobile telephony.
The quarterly report further revealed that the total deposits handled during the period under review grew by 4.8 per cent to Ksh 185.4 billion.
Ease of access to internet services through mobile phones and attractive promotional offers from mobile operators coupled with the popularity of social media among the the young generation has resulted in a 5.5 per cent increase of Internet subscription from the previous quarter. As of 31st March 2012 there were 6.49 million Internet subscriptions.
The fixed line network market segment, postal and courier industry continued to record negative growth over the period under review. The downward trend in the quantities of letters sent was recorded at 14.3 per cent while the fixed line services continued to face challenges in vandalism, high maintenance costs as well as fixed-mobile subscription.