Venezuela’s telecoms regulator Conatel has reported that the country’s number of fixed lines in service grew by 7% in the twelve months to the end of December 2009, taking the total to 6.9 million. The watchdog also said that total mobile subscriptions increased by 3% in the year to 28.1 million, continuing a slowdown in the growth rate from the 14% rise seen in 2008, and a 27% increase two years earlier. According to Conatel’s figures, cellular penetration reached 99.2% at end-2009. However, the standout development in the report was a 40% year-on-year increase in total fixed broadband internet customers to 1.9 million.

 source:telegeography