MINSK, 16 November (BelTA) - The number of broadband internet users has increased by approximately 70,000 subscribers over the past five years, Belarusian Communications and Informatization Minister Kirill Zalesky told STV, BelTA has learned.
“If we talk about telecommunications, landline phones, and internet channels, we are observing a slight growth in users, despite the market being saturated. Over the past five years, the number of broadband internet subscribers, primarily via fiber-optic lines, has grown by approximately 70,000. This figure may seem small, but it characterizes a saturated market. Today, about 3.3 million subscribers are connected to broadband, wired internet,” said Kirill Zalesky.
According to him, this type of internet is typically used at home, so to understand the real number of users, the subscriber count can safely be multiplied by two. Users are not going to abandon this internet because the technology allows for high speeds and large volumes of traffic for a specific subscriber.
“Today, the market has stabilized at a level of practically 100% demand satisfaction. We have about 4.1 million fixed-line telephone subscribers. This number is slightly decreasing because people often give up their landline phones,” he added.
According to Kirill Zalesky, the landline phone will remain as a means of communication for special occasions, as there are always critical emergencies. Mobile communications can malfunction, or disasters can occur that affect mobile network operation. Furthermore, a call over a wired line is more stable and secure in terms of external intrusion than a mobile call, and reliance on fixed networks will help offload mobile networks as well; therefore, abandoning landline service is certainly not advisable.
He added that the introduction of fines for providers' non-compliance with internet speed quality standards, which will take effect on 1 January 2026, was a logical element of the ministry's work. Resolution No. 1073 of the Council of Ministers of 31 December 2024 approved minimum quality of service indicators, primarily for mobile internet, depending on the type of locality. However, merely approving these minimum quality standards is not enough, which is why amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code complete the legal chain of the entire communications quality control system.
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