Pre-paid users boost GSM firms subscriber numbers

The number seems impressive and paves the way for very good results for the whole year if the tendency is maintained. Each mobile provider acquired about 500,000 new clients. So far, PTC has been the leader but Centertel is just an arm's length behind. Advertising campaigns indicate that providers are now focusing on pre-paid users. For instance, Centertel gained about 170,000 subscribers and almost twice as many pre-paid clients. Also, Polkomtel owes its excellent result to its pre-paid brand Simplus. The only but is that the number of actual clients as opposed to the number of SIM cards activated is believed to vary between 70-80%. The exact ratio is difficult to quote, as providers are reticent to comment on the issue, says Tomasz Kulisiewicz, a telecommunications expert. (Puls Biznesu, p.8) J.L.