3.3 billion phone users worldwide

According to a report by the International Telecommunications Union, the number of mobile phone users has risen to 3.3 billion worldwide.

According to a report by the International Telecommunications Union, the number of mobile phone users has risen to 3.3 billion worldwide, meaning mobile phone usage has reached 49% penetration in the global marketplace.

Mobile phone usage in third world countries is fast catching up to that of developed nations. Mobile subscription growth stood at 39 per cent annually in Africa between 2005-2007, and 28 per cent in Asia over the same period. Compared with the global annual average growth rate of 22%.

India and China have added 154 million and 143 million new subscribers respectively. In Africa mobile phones account for nearly 90 per cent of all telephone subscribers.

However developing nations continue to lag in the area of internet usage, particularly in the area of broadband connectivity.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald