50% of the world population connected by 2009

50% of the world population connected by 2009

According to Portio Research, mobile subscriber base would reach almost 4bn by 2011 (from 2bn in 2005). It is a big growth, and by 2011, almost 50% of the world population could theoretically have a telephone line (look at my comments on mobile penetration in this issue). India, China, Africa, Brazil, Indonesia, Russia and also the USA would drive the growth, as well as Pakistan, Mexico, Venezuela, Bangladesh, Iran and Ukraine.

3G would gain 50% penetration in Western Countries, while Asia would be the largest regional market with about 1bn 3G subscribers by 2011. APAC could have about 50% of world mobile subscribers by the end of the decade (or about 2bn), of which about 1bn only in China and India.