ALL the Internet providers report an enormous rise in high-speed Internet usage. They agree that interest will grow even further.
The Slovak Spectator asked two mobile operators, three fixed-line Internet providers and one cable Internet provider about their expectations on the high-speed Internet market.
Milan Hric, EuroTel: Fast mobile phone Internet is from the point of view of data download a next step in the development of telecommunications technologies.
Its price level is very often lower than the price of [Internet] technologies that were dominant several years ago. We do not suppose that operators will experience a drop [in these services]. The trend is firmly shaped and the speed and the quality of downloaded data will be the main criteria on which customers will choose their Internet access in the future.
Peter Tóth, Orange: Interest in high-speed Internet keeps on growing and so far development is in line with our expectations. As concerns the dial-up connection, more and more customers prefer to switch to different forms of access, EDGE among them, which offers higher speed of data download for a more advantageous price.
Radoslav Bielka, Slovak Telecom: Regarding dial-up Internet connection we expect the market to stabilize. Regarding DSL technology we suppose that the number of customers will rise.
Petra Vagaská, Slovanet:The interest in high-speed Internet is growing. A 500 percent increase in the number of Slovanet's DSL clients in 2004 proves that. Slovanet expects a sharp increase in ADSL Internet. If our estimates come true, we should have double our current number of customers.
Juraj Ďurov, Nextra:Broadband Internet, which is incomparable to a classic, slow dial-up connection, is definitely arousing the interest of the public. Many of our customers naturally changed from slow dial-up lines to fast ADSL Internet. It completely opens new ways of using the Internet for them.
Prices for ADSL are also getting to levels that are more affordable for average households and this positive trend will continue next year as well.
UPC:Business as well as individual customers are showing increased interest in high-speed Internet.
