Cellular Reaches 2,5 Billion Lines

Geekzone reported a very interesting statictic on cellular industry milestones. Mobile phone industry has become a spectacular industry: it took 20 years to reach 1 billion connections, three years to reach 2 billion connections and is on target to reach its third billion in a period of just over two years.

According to estimates from Wireless Intelligence, a venture between market intelligence firm Ovum and the GSM Association, the total number of cellular connections in the world will reach 2.5 billion, having passed through the 2 billion mark just 12 months ago,

“The cellular industry took 20 years to reach 1 billion connections, three years to reach 2 billion connections and is on target to reach its third billion in a period of just over two years,” says Martin Garner, Director of Wireless Intelligence.

“Worldwide growth is currently running at over 40 million new connections per month - the highest volume of growth the market has ever seen.””

Over the four quarters to the end of September 2006, world total net additions were 484 million. Of these, 41% were in Asia Pacific. Eastern Europe and Latin America together accounted for 30% of the growth. Africa took 10% of the growth and the relatively mature markets of Western Europe, North America and the Middle East took the remaining 20% in more or less equal measure.

[3G!]