Spending by Kuwaitis and residents on communications services rose by 7.8 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 483.2 million dinars, an increase of 35 million dinars compared with 448.2 million dinars in the same period of 2025, according to balance of payments data.
The increase came despite a decline in mobile communications subscriptions. Data from the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority showed that total mobile subscriptions fell by 2.22 percent to 7.892 million at the end of 2025, compared with 8.07 million a year earlier.
Prepaid and postpaid mobile subscriptions declined by 2.1 percent to approximately 5.96 million, from 6.09 million in 2024. Mobile broadband subscriptions through routers also decreased by 2.5 percent to 1.929 million, compared with 1.978 million a year earlier.
Traditional international calling recorded a sharper contraction in 2025. The number of outgoing international calls fell by 34.1 percent to 4.335 million, from 6.58 million in 2024. Total call duration dropped by 34.2 percent to 11.209 million minutes, compared with 17.039 million minutes.
The amounts charged for outgoing international calls declined by 34.6 percent to 1.389 million dinars, down from 2.125 million dinars in 2024. The figures point to a continued decline in the use and value of traditional international calls, as internet-based communication services offer an alternative.
Fixed-line services also continued to contract. The number of landlines fell by 6.5 percent to 126,797, compared with 143,758 in 2024, according to the figures provided.
Meanwhile, fixed broadband subscriptions totalled 41,927, comprising 28,246 subscriptions held by individuals, accounting for 67.36 percent of the total, and 13,681 subscriptions held by companies, representing 32.63 percent The distribution shows that individuals account for more than two-thirds of fixed broadband subscriptions, while businesses make up nearly one-third of the subscriber base.