New figures released by ITU yesterday indicate that, by end 2014, there will be almost 3 billion Internet users, two-thirds of them coming from the developing world, and that the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally. Fifty-five per cent of these subscriptions are expected to be in the developing world.
“The newly released ICT figures confirm once again that information and communication technologies continue to be the key drivers of the information society,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré.
“If we want to understand the information society, we have to measure it,” Brahima Sanou, the Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said. “Without IBMSPSSMPROmeasurement we cannot track progress or identify gaps which require our attention.”
Fixed-telephone subscriptions continue to decline
Results show that fixed-telephone penetration has been declining for the past five years. By end 2014, there will be about 100 million fewer fixed-telephone subscriptions than in 2009.
Mobile-cellular subscriptions to hit nearly 7 billion
Mobile-cellular subscriptions will reach almost 7 billion by end 2014, and 3.6 billion of these will be in the Asia-Pacific region. The increase is mostly due to growth in the developing world where mobile-cellular subscriptions will account for 78 per cent of the world’s total.Data show that mobile-cellular growth rates have reached their lowest-ever level (2.6% globally), indicating that the market is approaching saturation levels.
Growth in fixed-broadband penetration slowing in developing countries
By end 2014, fixed-broadband penetration will have reached almost 10 per cent globally.
Forty-four per cent of all fixed-broadband subscriptions are in Asia and the Pacific, and 25 per cent are in Europe. In contrast, Africa accounts for less than 0.5 per cent of the world’s fixed-broadband subscriptions, and despite double-digit growth over the last four years, penetration JN0-360 in Africa remains very low.Mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally.
Home internet access approaches saturation levels in developed countries
By end 2014, 44 per cent of the world’s households will have Internet access. Close to one-third (31%) of households in developing countries will be connected to the Internet, compared with 78 per cent in developed countries. The analysis shows that household Internet access is approaching saturation MSC-321 levels in developed countries.
Three billion people will use the Internet
By end 2014, the number of Internet users ICYBglobally will have reached almost 3 billion. Two-thirds of the world’s Internet users are from the developing world. This corresponds to an Internet-user penetration of 40 per cent globally, 78 per cent in developed countries and 32 per cent in developing countries. More than 90 per cent of the people who are not yet using the Internet are from the developing world.
