Portuguese held almost 2 billion calls

Sent more than 5.2 billion messages escritasOs subscribers of the Mobile Telephone Service (STM) held 1.8 billion calls in the 4 th quarter of the year, which represents a rise of 4.6 percent compared with same period in 2006 but a drop of 1.1% in the previous quarter, reveals the study released Monday by the National Authority for Communications (Anacom).

Already same period the number of calls received in the mobile network was about 1.82 billion, a figure which represents increases of 0.1% against the previous quarter and 4.6% in relation to the same quarter the previous year.

Calls originating in mobile networks and international networks have ended in a sharp downturn against the previous quarter (minus 30.1%). Calls originating in international networks and terminated in mobile networks had a similar behavior. "It is recalled that the development of this type of traffic is affected by seasonal factors, there is a peak in traffic during the 3. Quarter of each year," warns the same.

Also the fixed-mobile calls recorded a decrease of 6.7% compared to the previous quarter and 4.5% against the same quarter the previous year.

Already so-called fixed-mobile had, in the quarter under review, an increase of 2.5% against the previous quarter, but a decrease compared to the same period (1.9% less).

Number of minutes surpassed the 3.5 billion

The number of minutes of conversation originated in the mobile networks amounted, in the 4 th quarter of last year, more than 3.5 billion, registering a decrease of 1.7% in the previous quarter. Faced with the same quarter the previous year, the number of minutes of conversation grew 9.2%.

During this period, subscribers of STM took, on average, about 45 calls monthly, and that 30 of them were done for the network of the operator of origin.

"The average length of conversation by subscriber slowed this quarter, reaching approximately 87 minutes per month in the 4 th quarter of the year (less than 5 minutes that in the previous quarter). Subscribers speak, on average, 60 minutes with subscribers of the network itself, 17 minutes with subscribers of other mobile networks, 6 minutes with the fixed network customers and 4 minutes for international destinations.

Increase in number of written messages sent

According to the study by Anacom, returned to register an increase in the number of written messages sent, the total of 5.2 billion messages. This figure represents an increase of 2% compared to the previous quarter and 53.9% against the same quarter the previous year.

"This is linked to adherence to specific rates that have been emerging, which include a high number of messages free" states.

The same report also notes that the average number of messages per subscriber monthly presented a value lower than the previous quarter. "Indeed, despite being released by the operators to process a large volume of messages in the Christmas period, the increase against the previous quarter was only 2%. Moreover, it is estimated that the increase in the number of subscribers is partly motivated by verified acquisition of plates / modem for Internet access at broadband mobile, offers that do not contribute to the increased traffic of written messages, "concludes.