mobileu.co.uk

Mobile phone subscriptions exceed 5 billion

Global mobile phone subscriptions have reached the 5 billion mark, and industry experts believe the emerging markets of China and India will take that figure to 50 billion by 2020.

In figures researched by Swedish mobile technology company, Ericsson, 2 million new subscriptions are apparently made every day and at least 500 million of the total 50 billion were 3G subscriptions.

In comparison to figures from 10 years ago, the global subscriptions of 720 million in 2000 are now less than what China alone has today. The pace of growth is being matched by mobile broadband subscriptions, which are expected to be 3.4 billion in 2015, from 360 million in 2009.

The report stated, "Mobile subscriptions allow people who don't have access to a bank or a bank account to transfer money. Fishermen and farmers can get quick updates on sudden changes in the weather forecast. Villagers will get local medical care while children get access to online education. It facilitates daily operations of small businesses and drives economic growth."

The authors of the report predicted that machine-to-machine communications will be the key to the future growth of the mobile industry. Examples of these include smart meters that read themselves, digital road signs that can be updated remotely, cameras that can send pictures halfway around the world and even a soft drink machine that requests restocking when needed.