Switzerland: More cell phone subscriptions than inhabitants

 There are more cell phone subscriptions in Switzerland than inhabitants. This was announced by Bakom at the annual media conference in Biel. The so-called market penetration reached 104.2 percent in October last year. However, this is still low compared to the rest of Europe. In the EU, the average market penetration is 8% higher than in Switzerland, says Philipp Metzger from the Federal Office of Communications. The European frontrunners are Italy, Luxembourg and the Baltic states with values between 140 and 150 percent. The reason for the increase in cell phone subscriptions is hardly surprising: according to Bakom spokesman Bernhard Bürki, business cell phones are responsible for this. Many people now have a private cell phone and a second one provided by the business. Although the number of cell phone subscriptions in Switzerland is increasing, tariffs are not falling. In Switzerland, a cell phone user pays 23 francs more than in the rest of Europe. The charge for a call to another mobile network is also around 5 francs higher in Switzerland than in Europe. The "stoic loyalty of consumers" to Swisscom is also typical of the Swiss mobile phone market. In October 2007, Swisscom still had a 60 percent market share. In the EU, the largest provider has an average of around 40 percent.