By the end of 2010, there will be an estimated 5.3 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, including 940 million subscriptions to 3G services. - Access to mobile networks is now available to 90% of the world population and 80% of the population living in rural areas. - People are moving rapidly from 2G to 3G platforms, in both developed and developing countries. In 2010, 143 countries were off ering 3G services commercially, compared to 95 in 2007. - Towards 4G: a number of countries have started to off er services at even higher broadband speeds, moving to next generation wireless platforms –which includes Sweden, Norway, Ukraine and the United States. |
Mobile cellular growth is slowing worldwide. In developed countries, the mobile market is reaching saturation levels with on average 116 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants at the end of 2010 and a marginal growth of 1.6% from 2009-2010.
- At the same time, the developing world is increasing its share of mobile subscriptions from 53% of total mobile subscriptions at the end of 2005 to 73% at the end of 2010.
source ::International Telecommunication Union