Mexico added 1 million mobile customers in the first quarter, or 6.4 percent more than in the first quarter of 2012, according to telecom regulator Cofetel. This took the total mobile customer base to 101.7 million at the end of March, for an 86.2 percent penetration rate. Postpaid customers accounted for 15.6 percent of the user base (15.8 million subscribers), while prepaid customers decreased by 0.4 percent year-on-year to 85.9 million. Mobile broadband subscribers grew by 39.4 percent on a year earlier to 12.09 million lines, including 8.36 million on mobile phones and 3.73 million on wireless modems.
Fixed lines increased by 3 percent on a year earlier to 20.58 million lines, driven by alternative operators and cable TV providers. Fixed line penetration stood at 17.4 percent at the end of March. Broadband customers grew across the board. America Movil reported a 6.4 percent increase on a year earlier and Axtel a 3 percent increase. Maxcom said its data customers grew by 27 percent and Cablevision’s internet customers rose by 24.3 percent.
Mexico’s pay TV customers grew by 12.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012, including DTH up 20.9 percent to 7.1 million at the end of March. Cable TV subscribers grew by 4.8 percent year-on-year, reaching a total of 5.97 million, for a 45.2 percent share of all pay TV customers. MMDS subscribers decreased by 21.2 percent to slightly over 156,000.
