Vodafone: Internet sees rise even in recession

The number of mobile Internet users will continue to rise at a steady pace in Romania over the next few years, considering that even in urban areas, where inhabitants earn more, only 65% of households have a computer, a mere 19% of whom have Internet access, say representatives of Vodafone, no. 2 on the telecom market. In rural areas, numbers are even worse, which, on the other hand, means that operators have a high potential to sell: 19% of village households have a computer but only 3% also have Internet access. There are around 7.5 million households in Romania.

“Data services continued to rise in 2009, as well, in a time of recession, and will continue to do so in 2010,” says Liliana Solomon, CEO of Vodafone Romania. Betting on the increase in demand for mobile Internet, the company last year decided to invest “several tens of millions of euros” in nationwide coverage of the 3G mobile Internet network. At present, the Vodafone network covers over 12,000 Romanian towns, offering 3G Internet at speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, including rural areas.