urban and rural population of the ten cities is 3,312,165 inhabitants. The main urban area of the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley is located in the center of the valley and consists of the four largest cities by population: Medellin, Bello, Itagüí and Envigado. Economy In the urban area the main economic activities are related to textiles, concentrates, organized trade, informal trade, and the exploitation of sand pits and quarries. The rural areas are devoted to agriculture and livestock on a small scale. Both industry and trade have been contributing to economic activities in the town as a result of their contribution to and participation in economic growth. The economic activity of the municipality of Bello is represented in the following sectors according to their levels of participation: Industrial activity Textiles 18.30% Wood, paper and publishing, chemicals, coal, rubber, mineral and nonmetallic products 16.92% Other nonspecific industries 14.85% Basic machinery and equipment metal industries 12.60% Commercial activity Retail (Includes agricultural production) 61.51% Hotels and accommodation 26.14% Transport, storage and communication 9.60% Wholesale 2.19% Construction 0.78% Communication In the town of Bello virtually all possible telecommunications services are available, from payphones, to mobile phone networks, broadband wireless networks, browsing centers or cybercafés, IP communication, and others. The leading company in this sector is EPM Telecommunications (under its brand UNE), recently separated from its parent company Public Enterprises of Medellín (EPM). Also present are Bello Cable Bello Television Telecommunications Company, the Bogotá Telecommunications Enterprise (ETB), Telmex and Telecom (from Telefónica). There are three mobile operators all with nationwide coverage and GSM technology, Claro, Movistar (Telefónica) and Tigo of ETB, EPM and Luxembourg's Millicom International Telecommunications. The Avantel company also operates in the municipality, offering trunking service, which is done by means of a hybrid cellular and radio. The city has several channels of broadcast television, the three local channels – Telemedellín, Channel U and Televida, (which cover the Valle de Aburrá), a regional channel Teleantioquia, and five national channels: two private – Caracol and RCN, and three public – Canal Uno, Señal Institucional and Señal Colombia. In addition the TVN Channel of the Cable Bello Television Cable System, reaches approximately 80,000 thousand homes. Subscription TV companies offer their own channels. The city has a variety of AM and FM stations, with both local and national coverage, most of which are managed by Caracol Radio or RCN Radio, although there are other