Digital Lifescapes

According to the latest market study by Ovum, emerging market mobile network service providers will continue to experience strong connections growth in 2012. Mobile broadband will be the main driver of this growth, but it will also act as a strategic disruptor. The independent telecoms analyst firm states that emerging market operators will continue to see double digit mobile connections growth in 2012. Large markets with relatively low mobile penetration -- such as China, India and Indonesia -- will be the key drivers of this growth. Angel Dobardziev, Ovum Telecoms Emerging Markets practice leader said, "Many emerging market operators went through a transitional period in 2011. Operators had to continue adjusting to slower mobile connections growth, tougher competition, more regulation and lower prices and margins." While many emerging markets are still expected to experience double-digit connections growth in 2012, few will report double-digit revenue growth. Reven...

Total shipments of mobile phone handsets are expected to total 1.34 billion by 2010 and should maintain their momentum all the way to 2015 -- with more than 1.7 billion in handset shipments. "The Asia-Pacific region currently makes the largest contribution to global handset sales," says ABI Research industry analyst Celia Bo. Handset sales are projected to increase 9 percent this year compared to 2009, and will account for 38 percent of total shipments. China is clearly a major source of handset demand, but it is not the only one. India and Indonesia are also expanding their domestic demand. The Indian handset market is expected to grow from 84.3 million handsets in 2009 to 104 million in 2010, a Year-over-Year growth of 24 percent. Within Indonesia, many of its 240 million people confidently purchased 33 million handsets in 2009 -- that figure is expected to surpass 37 million by the end of 2010. Both markets have traditionally been fertile ground for Nokia distribu...