[Itpolicy-np] Worldwide Wireless Subscription Nears Three Fourth of World's Population

[Bipin Gautam]

(Source : http://testing-wireless-networks.tmcnet.com/topics/testing-wireless-networks/articles/102495-worldwide-wireless-subscription-nears-three-fourth-worlds-population.htm
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According to a new research from market research firm iSuppli, the
number of worldwide subscriptions for wireless services is expected to
reach 5 billion this month, equaling 73.4 percent of the earth’s
population.

After crossing the five billion threshold in September, global
wireless subscriptions will increase by another 100 million and hit
5.1 billion at the end of 2010, amounting to 74.5 percent of the
world’s population.

“If the importance of an event can be measured by the number of people
it affects, then the proliferation of wireless communications stands
out as one of the most significant phenomena in the history of
technology,” Jagdish Rebello, senior director and principal analyst
for wireless research at iSuppli, said.

Wireless communication, according to iSuppli, has spread to every
nation, every age and every income level, becoming a basic staple like
food, clothing and shelter.

“Wireless now represents the biggest stage that any technology market
has ever played on, offering unlimited opportunities for members of
the mobile communications supply chain,” Rebello added.

Wireless subscriptions represent a recurring payment for wireless
services delivered to a device, ranging from an Ultra Low-Cost Handset
or “ULCH” to a high-end smart phone.

“Because of the prevalence of mobile communications, the focus of the
global technology supply chain has shifted away from the
slower-growing computer market toward fast-expanding wireless-oriented
platforms,” Rebello said.

While the global installed base of wireless devices will amount to 4.9
billion at the end of 2010, the remaining subscribers will be
accounted for by additional Subscriber Identification or “SIM” modules
used in mobile handsets and services to Machine-to-Machine or “M2M”
communications systems, according to iSuppli.

The vast installed base means wireless delivers greater opportunities
for content and service developers to reach a large portion of the
population, according to iSuppli. Furthermore, the evolution of mobile
handsets into smart phones is leading to the deployment of more
value-added services, software and components.

Wireless penetration is least in Africa and Middle East, where
penetration amounts to 50 percent. The penetration is highest in
Western Europe, where there are more subscriptions than citizens, with
penetration amounting to 157.6 percent.

Europeans frequently have multiple subscriptions and phones for
maintaining communications while traveling in different nations that
use varying service providers and air standards, iSuppli finds.

On the software front, iSuppli found the market for preloaded
applications that are already included in cell phones when consumers
buy them will expand to $7.7 billion in 2014, up from $4.4 billion in
2010.

In terms of wireless components, the wireless communications
semiconductor market is estimated to reach $80.2 billion in 2014,
rising at a Compound Annual Growth Rate or “CAGR” of 7.1 percent from
$60.9 billion in 2010.

On the contrary, the data processing semiconductor market will see its
revenue expand at a CAGR of only 2.6 percent during the same period.