According to Informa Telecoms & Media, the number of mobile subscriptions worldwide will reach 2.14 billion by the end of 2005, having already surpassed the 1.8 billion mark. Building on record growth of 354 million in 2004, net additions are again expected to exceed 350 million in 2005. Rapid growth in key developing markets will not be offset by a decline in mature markets to the extent previously expected. Reductions in access fees in expanding markets such as Nigeria and Mexico have had an impact on short-term growth. The Russian mobile market grew by 89 percent in 2004 on the back of four previous years of annual growth in excess of 100 percent, and Russia alone is forecast to account for 43 percent of net additions in Central and Eastern Europe in 2005-2010. The Chinese mobile market, which exceeded the 400-million-subscription mark in March 2005, is forecast to grow by 65 percent by the end of 2010. Indonesia is forecast to exceed 50 million subscriptions in 2007. According to Informa the global penetration rate is just 28 percent, meaning that there are still more than four billion potential new mobile users worldwide.
The satellite communications industry is experiencing a transformative moment. What was once the exclusive domain of government agencies and deep-pocketed corporations is rapidly becoming accessible to everyone. This democratization of space-based connectivity represents a significant technological achievement and a fundamental shift in our understanding of global communications infrastructure. The dramatic acceleration in satellite system deployment tells a compelling story. Satellite Broadband Market Development With over 160 launches recorded by August 2025 alone, we're witnessing an unprecedented build-out of orbital infrastructure. This surge is driven by three converging factors: Plummeting launch costs through reusable rocket technology, the miniaturization of satellites enabling bulk launches, and intensifying commercial competition among private companies and nations alike. The result is a space ecosystem that looks radically different from even a decade ago, with approxi...