Fueled by rapid growth in China, India, and Africa, worldwide mobile phone service subscriptions continued to expand rapidly in 2007, according to the latest market study by In-Stat.
Due to some areas approaching saturation and a relatively slow world economy, subscription growth in 2008 is expected to be much less, the high-tech market research firm says.
"India and China subscription numbers are growing at a fast clip, as more of the population gets their first cell phone, and often their first phone of any kind," says Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst.
Most of these phones are low-end GSM phones, but even some of these phones are starting to incorporate more high-end features.
The In-Stat research covers the worldwide market for mobile phone communication subscriptions. It contains cellular subscription numbers by region and technology for 2006 and 2007, and forecasts through 2012.
In-Stat's market study found the following:
- The number of worldwide cellular subscriptions in 2007 grew by 667.6 million over 2006.
- 2008 subscription growth is forecast to be only 382.5 million more than 2007's growth.
- By 2012, yearly growth in subscribers is expected to decrease to only 163 million per year, roughly twice the population increase projected in that year.
Due to some areas approaching saturation and a relatively slow world economy, subscription growth in 2008 is expected to be much less, the high-tech market research firm says.
"India and China subscription numbers are growing at a fast clip, as more of the population gets their first cell phone, and often their first phone of any kind," says Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst.
Most of these phones are low-end GSM phones, but even some of these phones are starting to incorporate more high-end features.
The In-Stat research covers the worldwide market for mobile phone communication subscriptions. It contains cellular subscription numbers by region and technology for 2006 and 2007, and forecasts through 2012.
In-Stat's market study found the following:
- The number of worldwide cellular subscriptions in 2007 grew by 667.6 million over 2006.
- 2008 subscription growth is forecast to be only 382.5 million more than 2007's growth.
- By 2012, yearly growth in subscribers is expected to decrease to only 163 million per year, roughly twice the population increase projected in that year.