The communication landscape has turned 360 degrees since 2002 and the relentless growth of cell phone subscribers around the globe is testimony to this new phenomenon – the last decade has witnessed an annual growth of more than 25% in the number of mobile phone subscribers. It is hardly surprising that more than 3 billion additional cell (mobile) phone users jumped on the mobile bandwagon between 2002 and 2008.
The easy availability and affordability of cell phones and tariff charges has made this the most practical means of communication and business transaction for the developing world.
Mobile revolution took center-stage in US and Europe, and most of the first-round innovations were because of the customer demands in these technologically advanced parts of the world. But, the markets which are making heads turn are the emerging economies – China, India, pockets of South-East Asia and Asia Pacific.
China & India factor
In addition to being one of the most populous regions on the planet, China and India are also witnessing an unheralded economic economic growth, which is translating into a mammoth expenditure in the areas of telecommunication and connectivity. To account for the region as a whole, Asia pacific had a telecommunication budget of $405 billion in 2009 – And analysts are predicting an expenditure of $815 billion in 2015. China and India will jointly account for $369 billion spend on communications. In terms of mobile phone subscriptions, Asia Pacific will have 3.1 billion mobile phone subscriptions in 2015 – up from 2.1 billion in 2009.
In terms of sheer numbers…
- China will continue to have the world’s largest number of mobile phone subscriptions at 957 million in 2015
- India is poised to become the fastest growing mobile consumer with almost 93% increase between 2009 and 2015 – which approximately translates into 871 million mobile subscriptions.
- The one important number for the internet marketers is the volume of smartphone subscribers that is expected by 2015. Asia alone will be home to around 347 million smartphone users in another 5 years.
- To cap it off – Asia Pacific has the highest number of mobile phone subscriptions of all world regions, yet the potential is far from being exhausted.
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