The Government has also had regard to general economic and development metrics that illuminate the context in which Solomon Islands people and organizations are endeavouring to acquire and use ICT. (These are cited at relevant points.) Availability of telecommunications services 16. In Solomon Islands, telecommunications sector policy since 2008 has required the removal of barriers to investment and competition in telecommunications and the light- handed administration of regulation. The Telecommunications Act 2009 is premised on a policy of presenting minimal barriers to entry, facilitating interconnection and access, and proscribing anti-competitive forms of conduct. The Act includes provisions for price control and universal access funding to service providers, neither of which it has been desirable to invoke. Entry by prospective telecommunications service providers is not limited by any cap on licence numbers and a broad “class licensing” regime is now in effect. 17. According to TCSI statistics:  mobile subscriber numbers have grown from 57,000 in 2009, to 323,105 in 2013 and 333,159 by June 2014;  mobile penetration has increased from 11% in 2009, to 58% in 2013 and 60% by June 2014;  mobile coverage (based on population of villages served) has expanded from under 20% in 2009, to 80% in 2013 and 83% by June 2014;  mobile internet subscriptions have grown from 8,205 in 2010 to 44,935 in 2013and 49,038 by June 2014;  fixed lines in service have declined from 8,801 in 2009 to 7,618 in 2013 and 7,516 by June 2014;  mobile internet penetration reached 6.5% in 2012, 8.1% in 2013 and 8.9% by June 2014; and Page | 11 Solomon Islands National ICT Policy