The number of GSM subscriptions worldwide will pass 2 billion within the next couple of weeks, according to GSA - the Global mobile Suppliers Association. The first billion GSM subscriptions was announced in February 2004, 12 years after the launch of the first networks. The second billion for the GSM-technology family comes just two and a half years later.
A village woman in a rural community in Poona, India, using a mobile phone - GSM is the first communications technology to have more users in the developing world than in the developed world |
Alan Hadden, President, GSA said: "GSA welcomes this important milestone as it underscores the ubiquity of GSM/WCDMA as the technology of choice. We look forward to the next billion joining the world's biggest linked community, who will be enjoying the benefits of mobile technology as their first and primary communication tool."
Mobile subscriber growth is driven by the GSM family of technologies, which comprises GSM/GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA and HSDPA. The GSM family makes up more than 81% of the worldwide mobile market, with subscribers of CDMA having 13% market share. Between January 06 - April 06, the GSM family added almost 160 million subscriptions, i.e. more than 1.32 million daily (subscriber data source: Informa Telecoms & Media).
GSA regular surveys on the evolution of 3G confirm accelerating progress. WCDMA is clearly the mainstream 3G technology globally with 112 networks having launched commercial services in 49 countries. The path to mobile broadband has moved to a new baseline with over 100 HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) network deployments in 52 countries, including 33 commercial launches in 25 countries. There are 204 GSM/EDGE network deployments in 113 countries with 151 launched across 88 countries, many being deployed as complementary to WCDMA networks for service continuity, and the best user experience."
Posted to the site on 14th June 2006
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/17795.php
