According to a new forecast issued by market research firm Analysys, mobile phone penetration in Western Europe is expected to exceed 100 percent by 2007 -- The report predicted that penetration would grow from 90 percent this year to 98 percent by 2006 and 100 percent in 2007. Mobile penetration already exceeds 100 percent in several European countries, including Italy, Sweden and the U.K. Analysys said growth stagnated in some markets that have tried to stabilize ARPU (Average Revenue per User) by converting customers from pre-pay to contract, but added that 3G would be a catalyst for growth in Europe, with consumers buying new mobile phones and SIM cards to gain access to new services. "With the advent of 3G, operators have an opportunity to stabilize and potentially even grow voice ARPU by using the efficiency of the technology and offering large bundles of minutes," said analyst Alex Zadvorny.
Despite a challenging backdrop from the ongoing effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the negative impact on fifth-generation (5G) wireless supply chains has been minimal compared to the wider mobile smartphone market. This led to 5G mobile devices becoming more diverse, brought to market quickly at a variety of price points, thereby accelerating affordability and adoption. The mobile market is transitioning to 5G and many leading vendors are now exploring the low-priced 5G smartphone segment. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, 681 million 5G handsets will be shipped in 2022. Therefore, the race is on for OEMs to find that all-important level of differentiation in their flagship portfolios to help boost margins and improve market share. 5G Wireless Market Development Vendors continue to drive the adoption of new product designs, screen technology, chipsets, and camera setups -- notably within the flagship smartphone segment. Meanwhile, the leaders seek a