By the end of the year, mobile broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally, with penetration in the developed countries four times higher (84%) than in developing countries (21%), figures released recently by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) showed.
The majority (55%) of all mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to be in the developing world, with Asia-Pacific accounting for 23%.
Figures also indicate that by the end of 2014 there will be almost three billion internet users, two-thirds of them coming from developing countries. By end 2014, fixed broadband penetration will have reached almost 10% globally. Some 44% of these subscriptions are in Asia and the Pacific.
However, fixed telephone subscriptions continue to decline, a consistent trend in the past five years. By end 2014, there will be about 100 million fewer fixed telephone subscriptions than in 2009.
Meanwhile, mobile cellular subscriptions will reach almost 7 billion by end 2014, and 3.6 billion of these will be in the Asia-Pacific region. Africa and Asia Pacific, where penetration will reach 69% and 89% respectively by end 2014, are the regions with the strongest mobile cellular growth.
By end 2014, 44% of the world’s households will also have internet access. Close to one-third (31%) of households in developing countries will be connected to the internet, compared with 78% in developed countries. The analysis shows that household internet access is approaching saturation levels in developed countries.