Asia Home to More than Half of World Mobile Connections by 2011

(Top News, 13 Nov 2008)

Revising its global mobile forecasts, Ovum says connections in Asia-Pacific (including China/India) will more than double to 2.9 billion in 2013 from 1.4 billion in 2007. "This will mean that by 2011, Asia will be home to more than half of the world's mobile connections, from 42 percent in 2007," says Nathan Burley, Ovum analyst.

In developed markets, drivers of connection growth include more multiple connections driven predominately by mobile broadband. "However only a small proportion of connection growth will occur in developed markets," adds Burley.

In emerging markets, new prepaid subscribers will continue to drive growth as the cost of ownership continues to fall. Nathan says, "We continue to see only limited impact on connections from negative macro-economic conditions."

Revenues will not grow as fast as connections, as overall ARPUs fall especially in emerging markets. "We do however still expect healthy revenue growth at an average annual growth rate of 9 percent through to 2013. Data will also continue to grow as a proportion of industry revenue," says Burley.

Source: Ovum

Despite housing more than half world connections, lower ARPUs across Asia will mean the region still accounts for less than a third of industry revenue by 2013.

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