October 14, 2003

Fixed and mobile phone penetration stood at 90.2% and 74.1% of homes, respectively, in Q2-2003, according to Spanish regulator CMT.

Only 49% of the population uses their mobile phones in the home, a stable level compared to earlier quarters. Of those surveyed who did not own a mobile phone, 3.2% said they planned to buy one within six months. Average expenditure by residential customers is EUR 19 per month, including an average of EUR 16 per month for prepaid and about EUR 25 per month for postpaid users.

When asked about the possibility of replacing their fixed line with a mobile phone, 81.4% of respondents said they cannot be substituted because of the high cost of mobile calls and coverage limitations. The average fixed phone bill was EUR 47.10 per month in Q2-003 compared to EUR 44.20 per month in Q1-3.

This includes line rental and Internet access calls. The rise could be attributed to higher Internet traffic. Discount plans are applied to 24.6% of all fixed-line contracts.