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ITU sees 5 billion mobile subscriptions globally in 2010
Strong global mobile cellular growth predicted across all regions and all major markets
Barcelona, 15 February 2010 — After
reaching around 4.6 billion mobile cellular subscriptions by the end of 2009,
ITU expects the number of mobile cellular subscriptions globally to reach five
billion in 2010, driven by advanced services and handsets in developed countries
and increased take-up of mobile health services and mobile banking in the
developing world.
"Even during an economic crisis, we have seen no drop in the demand for
communications services," says ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré, taking
part in the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, "and I am confident
that we will continue to see a rapid uptake in mobile cellular services in
particular in 2010, with many more people using their phones to access the
internet."
ITU expects to see the number of mobile broadband subscriptions exceed one
billion globally during 2010, having topped 600 million by the end of 2009. With
current growth rates, web access by people on the move — via laptops and smart
mobile devices – is likely to exceed web access from desktop computers within
the next five years.
"Even the simplest, low-end mobile phone can do so much to improve healthcare
in the developing world," adds Dr Touré. "Good examples include sending reminder
messages to patient’s phones when they have a medical appointment, or need a
pre-natal check-up. Or using SMS messages to deliver instructions on when and
how to take complex medication such as anti-retrovirals or vaccines. It’s such a
simple thing to do, and yet it saves millions of dollars — and can help improve
and even save the lives of millions of people."
Concerning mobile banking, rapid growth in mobile cellular subscriptions has
meant that there are now large numbers of people worldwide, especially in
developing countries, who have a mobile phone subscription but no bank account —
and increasingly, subscribers are using their phones for banking.
ITU is the main source of internationally comparable data and statistics on
ICT. The Market Information and Statistics Division of the Telecommunication
Development Bureau (BDT) collects, harmonizes and disseminates more than 100
telecommunication and ICT indicators from over 200 economies worldwide. Data are
accessible online through the ICT Eye portal, on CD and in print publications.
ITU regularly publishes analytical reports illustrating the latest trends in the
sector. It also monitors the development of the digital divide and has developed
widely used benchmarking tools, such as the ICT Development Index (IDI).
For more information contact:
Sarah Parkes
ITU Media Relations
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+41 22 730 6135 |
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+41 79 599 1439 |
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+41 22 730 5939 |
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pressinfo@itu.int |
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Susan Teltscher
Head, Market Information and Statistics Division
Telecommunication Development Bureau
ITU
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+41 22 730 5937 |
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susan.teltscher@itu.int |
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