Telecommunications: Despite deregulation, expansion, and modernization over the past 10 years, Romania’s telecommunications sector remains underdeveloped by regional standards. Nevertheless, the information technology (IT) market in Romania is one of the fastest growing in Eastern Europe. The market for mobile phone services in Romania is one of the most advanced in the Balkans, with mobile phone service more widely used than fixed-line. There are four mobile service providers, using either General System for Mobile Communications Technology (GSM) or code division multiple access (CDMA, a digital network launched in 2001). Estimates vary, but Romania had between 5.1 and 6.9 million mobile service subscribers versus 4.2 to 4.4 million fixed lines as of the end of 2003. Internet penetration is weak by European standards but growing rapidly at about 5 to 6 percent per month. By 2004 it was estimated that Romania had 4 million Internet users and 50,807 Internet hosts.