UAE mobile phone market loses over 728,000 users

The UAE mobile phone market has lost more than 728,000 users in three months, but it still has one of the highest penetration rates in the world, at more than 200 per cent.

Official data showed the number of mobile phone GSM subscribers dropped by around 90,000 in July, bringing the total decline to 728,900 during May-July.

The figures by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which oversees the UAE’s telecom sector, showed total users mobile phones, landlines and internet in Etisalat and Du declined by more than 80,000 in one month from around 17.186 million at the end of June to 17.106 million at end-July.

Most of the decline in GSM users in July was in pre-paid SIM cards, which fell by around 87,000 to reach 14.425 million, the figures showed.

The decline in July depressed the UAE’s mobile phone penetration rate to 201.2 per cent at the end of the month from 202.3 per cent at the end of June.

Experts said the level remained one of the highest penetration ratios in the world given the advanced telecom services offered by the two local providers and the country’s high per capita income.

The figures showed landline users also declined from around 2.153 million at the end of June to 2.147 million at the end of July while internet subscribers slipped from 1.154 million to 1.151 million in the same period.

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