High-speed Internet Market in Bulgaria Increased 19.6% in Second Half of 2006

The market share of high speed Internet increased in Bulgaria 19.6 per cent for June - December 2006, compared to the first six months of the year, US ICT company IDC branch in Bulgaria Manager Neli Vacheva told journalists on Tuesday. According to her, the company carries out studies related to information and communication technologies across the world.

The overall number of high-quality Internet connections in the country reached 461,046 at end-2006 compared to 385,710 six months earlier. The tendency of increased access to the Internet will be increased in the next one to two years as well, Vacheva said. A total of 11.7 per cent of households in Bulgaria have access to high-speed Internet.

The study does not cover the public sector, as it does not have any relation to the service market, Vacheva added. Despite this, the State Administration National Network continues to develop. ADSL has been introduced in part of the offices.

The high-speed Internet in schools project was reopened in November 2006 after almost one-year break. The ADSL connection of over 2,000 schools is planned to be over by the year-end, Vacheva also said.

The high-speed Internet providers offer higher and higher speeds to its customers. Packages between 512 kbps and 1 Mbps are more preferred, the company said.

BTA