HAKOM: The Internet access services revenue growth keeps the electronic communications market value at the last year’s level

ZAGREB, 1 December 2015 - In the third quarter of 2015, on the electronic communications market a significant revenue growth was achieved by the Internet access service. There is an increasing number of people who use smart phones to access the Internet therefore a large revenue growth has been recorded in that segment, as well as a significant growth in data traffic. The mobile operators have achieved more revenue from the telephone services than in the previous quarter, as a result of the seasonal effect, however, still less than in the same period last year, which is partly a consequence of the lower roaming prices. At the same time, due to an increase in the use of various communication services, such as Viber, WhatsApp, Skype and other services, there is a decreased number of outgoing SMS and MMS messages.

As expected, compared to the previous period, a decreased number of users and revenue from the telephone services at fixed location has been recorded. The revenue decrease is mainly the result of the wholesale revenues decline, primarily due to lower wholesale prices.  The Operators keep switching the users to VoIP technology, what has contributed to the significant decline in the number of CPS users (CPS), by about 13 percent compared to the previous quarter.

Due to the competitive environment and more intense struggle for market share, the package services have become more important comprising several services. Satellite television has recorded a significant growth. Almost all electronic communications operators offering IPTV services offer satellite television on the places where network bandwidth is not sufficient for the provision of IPTV services, which is one of the reasons for the growth of this type of connection.
 

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.