Communications and Technology Industry Research

These may not be the best times for many companies, considering the economy. But telecommunication companies can still look toward the future with some optimism, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.

 

The report says that through 2013, the number of mobile network subscribers worldwide will continue to grow at a rate of 8 percent annually. Emerging markets will play a key role by providing 90 percent of that growth, according to the report. On a global level, mobile subscriptions will grow from 4.0 billion this year to 5.85 billion in 2013.

 

While the United States and Europe are hit by economical recession, the Asia-Pacific region has emerged as the biggest market for mobile services by subscriber count. Nations such as India and Pakistan still an untapped market in rural areas, and Africa and the Middle East are not far behind, as they’re poised to overtake other regions to become the second-largest mobile market by subscriber count by 2013, states Pyramid Research.

 

Boosted by a penetration rate of 60 percent at the end of 2008, global mobile subscription penetration is expected to exceed 83 percent, says the report. In 2008, the global market for mobile voice and data communications services is expected to be $908 billion.

 

Pyramid – which caused a stir recently by reporting that IPTV (News - Alert) will make progress at the expense of cable TV – says that the number of mobile subscriptions will increase from 4 billion to 5.85 billion between 2008 and 2013. While Europe may not prove to be a profitable market for telecom service providers, Africa, the Middle East and Asia will account for the biggest subscriber gains.

 

The report, titled “Mobile Subscriber & Revenue Forecast 2008-2013: Emerging Market Opportunities,” focuses on market penetration rates by region and service revenues by region. The report is part of Pyramid Research’s Global Market Perspective report series.