2003 Proving to Be the Year of the GSM Data Subscriber

GSM data subscriber numbers continue to grow with a total base of 14.3m in Q1 2003 expected to exceed 22.5m at Q2 2003, according to figures from EMC's latest edition of World Cellular Data Metrics, published today. The total number of commercial GPRS networks reached 162 in mid-June 2003 and is forecasted to surpass 200 before year-end. 14 MMS networks launched in Q2 2003 bringing total MMS launches to date to 135. Data users are defined as active subscribers to non-circuit switched data services.

"With most major European operators having already launched the service, emerging markets are now becoming the key drivers in the launch of GPRS networks', commented Kester Mann, Research Analyst at EMC. 'Commercial services have recently been launched in markets as widely spread as Belarus, Bermuda, Northern Cyprus, Latvia, Pakistan and Venezuela, while deployments expected in H2 2003 will be focused in Latin America as well as emerging markets in Eastern Europe and Asia".

"

Posted to the site on 1st July 2003