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The Legacy of 2G Mobile GSM Penetration

GSM/GPRS will retain over 1 billion subscribers at the end of the decade, according to a comprehensive new mobile forecast by Research and Markets.

The analyst expects the technology to account for nearly half of the projected 2.3 billion wireless subscribers as of 2010. About 1.1 billion subscribers will be on 3G networks by that time, with WCDMA, EDGE and HSDPA attracting hundreds of millions. �While WCDMA, HSDPA, EDGE and CDMA will satisfy high-speed voice, data and content needs as well as capacity wants, there will still be a very large use of GSM/GPRS as operators in many markets look to meet simpler voice and data needs,� explained report author, Larry Swasey.

�What we are seeing today is not only the growth and use of high-speed mobile networks, but also continued significant growth in second-tier and third-tier wireless markets. In the top markets 3G has been implemented, viable high-speed handsets are being shipped in quantities and users are signing-up for high-speed data services. In other areas success is down to simple voice and data strategies where mobile is being used instead of implementing a wireless local loop.�

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