The global recession clearly accelerated the pace of wireline-to-mobile substitution, according to a new Fixed and Mobile Subscribers market forecast report from Infonetics Research. Driven by strong growth in China, India, Brazil, Russia and other emerging economies, the number of worldwide mobile subscribers will reach 5.9 billion by 2013.
Some other highlights of the report:
- There were nearly 4 times more mobile subscribers than access line subscribers worldwide in 2008 (3.9 billion vs. 1 billion)
- The number of mobile subscribers grew 17.4% in 2008 over 2007, while access line subscribers declined 5.5%
- Access lines are disappearing fastest in North America and China, due to the move to fixed-to-mobile substitutions, the switch from copper to fiber lines, and the recession, during which many people ditch their landlines and keep only their mobile or smartphone
- The number of worldwide mobile subscribers will reach 5.9 billion by 2013
- The number of PON FTTH subscribers worldwide is expected to soar at a compound annual growth rate of 32% from 2008 to 2013.
http://www.infonetics.com