Communications and Technology Industry Research

After a slower start, the United States has caught up with Western Europe in the adoption of 3G with 28.4 percent of American mobile subscribers having 3G devices vs. 28.3 percent in the largest countries in Europe, according to comScore, Inc.

 

The number of U.S. subscribers with 3G enabled devices has grown 80 percent to 64.2 million in the past year. The market has responded, as mobile vendors have rolled out their enhanced networks and a new crop of 3G enabled devices.

 

“For years, the American mobile industry has aspired to the level of sophistication of the European market,” said Mark Donovan (News - Alert), senior vice president and senior analyst, comScore, a provider of measurement in the digital world. “Today, Americans have finally caught up with Europeans in adoption of 3G. The advancements in 3G network technology and the introduction of sleek devices into the U.S. market have paid off as adoption of mobile media continues to grow at a rapid pace.”

 

The only individual major European countries exceeding the U.S. in 3G penetration are Italy and Spain, according to comScore.

 

According to comScore, the number of mobile subscribers with 3G devices in Germany, went from 15.1 percent in June 2007 to 23.9 percent in June 2008. That number went from 22.5 percent to 37.2 percent in Spain; 12.6 percent to 17.1 percent in France; 32.1 percent to 38.3 percent in Italy; and 19.9 percent to 27.6 percent in the U.K.

 

The total of the five European countries went from 20.3 percent to 28.3 percent, while the total number in the United States went from 16.7 percent to 28.4 percent. The numbers were based on a three-month average, ending in June 2007 and June 2008.

 

The total number of subscribers with 3G devices in Germany was 7 million at the end of June 2007, as opposed to 11.7 million in June 2008, which is a 67.1 percent growth.

 

In Spain, the number of 3G subscribers went from 7.2 million to 12.6 million – a 75.4 percent growth; in France, it went from 5.6 million to 7.9 million – a 41.7 percent increase; in Italy, it went from 14.4 million to 18 million – a 24.5 percent climb; and in the U.K. it went from 8.9 million to 13.1 million – a 46.1 percent hike.

 

The total number of 3G users for the five European countries went from 43.2 million in June 2007 to 63.4 million in June 2008 – a 46.6 percent increase. In the U.S., the number of users went from 35.6 million in June 2007 to 64.2 million in June 2008 – an 80.1 percent rise.

 

comScore’s capabilities are based on a global cross-section of about two million Internet users who have given them permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that gathers and integrates their attitudes and intentions.

 

Using its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of digital behavior and attitudes, helping clients design more powerful marketing strategies that deliver superior ROI. For more information, visit http://www.comscore.com