Mobile mania reaches new giddy heights

The country's two largest mobile phone operators have released figures showing a sharp increase in customers in 2001. Eurotel, the country's largest network, said it gained just over a million new customers last year, while second place Paegas fell slightly short of the million mark. Figures were not yet available for the third network, Oskar. The Czech Republic now has just over 10 million inhabitants and a staggering seven million mobile phone owners. Analysts say mobile penetration could exceed 80 percent by the end of the year.