3G Americas: GSM to Grow 50 Percent This Year

The number of GSM mobile users in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to grow 50% this year to 180 million compared to 2005, Erasmo Rojas, Latin America and Caribbean director for GSM industry association 3G Americas, told BNamericas.

At the end of the first quarter, Latin America recorded nearly 260 million mobile users up from 188 million in 1Q05. Comparing last quarter with the same period a year ago, GSM was the fastest growing technology, increasing its client base by 93%, while CDMA technology grew 37% and TDMA continues to lose subscribers.

According to 3G Americas, GSM accounts for 52% of users in Brazil, 59% in Mexico, 74% in Colombia, 56% in Argentina and 53% in Chile. On the other hand, in Venezuela, the fifth largest mobile market in the region, only 15% are GSM users. In Latin America, Brazil has the largest number of mobile users across all technologies with 92 million, followed by Mexico (49 million), Colombia (25 million), Argentina (23 million), Venezuela (14 million) and Chile (11.7 million). [3G!]

Read more: TCMnet