Communications and Technology Industry Research

Whether the issue is global warming, gasoline consumption or mobile subscriber growth, the global story basically boils down to “China and India,” though Africa also is helping fuel worldwide mobile subscription growth.

"India and China subscription numbers are growing at a fast clip, as more of the population gets their first cell phone, and often their first phone of any kind," says Allen Nogee, In-Stat (News - Alert) analyst. "Most of these phones are low-end GSM phones, but even some of these phones are starting to incorporate more high-end features."

 

As a result, developing market handset sales won’t add much to global revenue totals for suppliers.

 

The number of worldwide cellular subscriptions in 2007 grew by 667.6 million over 2006, In-Stat notes. In 2008 an additional 382.5 million subscribers over the 2007 total will be added.

 

By 2012, yearly growth in subscribers is expected to decrease to only 163 million per year, though, as even developing markets reach saturation.