Almost 1m subscribers switched carriers in past 6 months

Communications Ministry: 460,000 mobile subscribers switched carriers in the first quarter of 2013 and 490,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Almost one million mobile subscribers switched carriers in six months, the Ministry of Communications reported today. The number of mobile subscribers switching carriers fell 6% to 460,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2013 from 490,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2012. The number of fixed-line subscribers switching carriers rose 4% to 96,000 subscribers in the first quarter from 92,000 in the preceding quarter.

These figures are several times higher than the churn rate before the introduction of competition in the telecommunications market: 90,000 mobile subscribers and 60,000 fixed-line subscribers switched carriers in the first quarter of 2010.

Since number portability came into effect, four million subscribers have switched carriers.

The Ministry of Communications said that when the subscriber identification system, which prevents mistaken identities of subscribers seeking to switch carriers, comes into effect in June 2013, the already low number of mistakes will be eliminated altogether.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on April 30, 2013