Mexico City, Feb 27 (IANS/EFE): Mexico's telecommunications industry grew 13.6 percent last year, compared to 2011, "the highest (level) in the past four years", due mainly to growth in wireless telephony and satellite television, said authorities.

The industry's growth rate was well above that of the economy, which grew 3.9 percent in 2012, the the Federal Telecommunications Commission, or Cofetel, said in a statement.

The telecom sector grew 14.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to the same period a year earlier, a "figure that was well above the increase in the gross domestic product of 3.2 percent observed in this period", the commission said.

Satellite television was the most dynamic performer in the fourth quarter, growing at a 22.8 percent rate, while cable television grew 6.4 percent.

Wireless telephony grew 17.8 percent and added 1.7 million subscribers in the October-December 2012 period, reaching 100.6 million subscribers, a "figure that represents a penetration rate of 85.7 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants", the commission said.

Incoming international long-distance telephone calls grew 11.8 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, compared to the same period in 2011, while outgoing calls grew 4 percent, the highest rate since the second quarter of 2011, the Cofetel said.

Mexico had 20.1 million landlines at the end of 2012, a penetration rate of 17.1 per 100 inhabitants, the commission said.

Telecom rates have been falling in Mexico, both in real and nominal terms, due to increased competition, the Cofetel said.