My Photo

Ordering Information

Tomi on Twitter is @tomiahonen

  • Follow Tomi on Twitter as @tomiahonen
    Follow Tomi's Twitterfloods on all matters mobile, tech and media. Tomi has over 8,000 followers and was rated by Forbes as the most influential writer on mobile related topics

Book Tomi T Ahonen to Speak at Your Event

  • Contact Tomi T Ahonen for Speaking and Consulting Events
    Please write email to tomi (at) tomiahonen (dot) com and indicate "Speaking Event" or "Consulting Work" or "Expert Witness" or whatever type of work you would like to offer. Tomi works regularly on all continents

Tomi on Video including his TED Talk

  • Tomi on Video including his TED Talk
    See Tomi on video from several recent keynote presentations and interviews, including his TED Talk in Hong Kong about Augmented Reality as the 8th Mass Media

Categories

Categories

Subscribe


Subscribe to this blog's feed

Archives

Blog powered by Typepad

« Another week in bloodbath, another casualty: now Google's Nexus Two. Plus HTC, Samsung, Nokia | Main | This is now BAD news for Apple, as Consumer Reports won't recommend iPhone 4, finds death grip to be proven »

July 12, 2010

Big Milestone - world now has 5 Billion active mobile phone subscriptions

I promised you we'd pass the 5 Billion active mobile phone subscription level this year. But even I was surprised how rapidly that happened - the past 6 months have seen an acceleration of mobile phone subscriber activations and now we can see to the end of 2010 that we will pass 5.3 Billion by year-end.

Remember the 5 Billon subscriptions are not 'unique users' and all are not actual mobile phones. About a third of those 'real people' who have an active mobile phone account and at least 1 phone - actually have 2 (or more) mobile phone accounts. And of the unique users, about one in seven has two actual mobile phones (like an executive who has a Blackberry from work, who also has a private iPhone).

There were a couple of sources who were announcing the 5 Billion level last month, but I like the Wireless Intelligence statistics, compiled by the GSM Association, which I think is the next best thing this side of the ITU official stats. So yes, forget the 4.6 Billion number, we now talk about 5 Billion active (and paid) mobile phone subscriptions on the planet. Thats the equivalent of one mobile phone subscription for 73% of the total population of the planet. Or to put it another way, if we assume all 'adults' on the planet have a phone, the age point of at what point all have a phone is now at age 14. So 'mathematically' there is a mobile phone subscription for every live human on the planet who is older than age 15 (and falling). That will pass age 13 by year end...

Wireless Intelligence also tells us that the penetration rate leaders are Western Europe where on average there are 130% mobile phones per capita. The laggard is of course Africa, which has already climbed past the half point with 52% penetration rate per capita. Eastern Europe is the only other region to have passed 100%. Cool. And thanks to Joss Gillet who first pointed me to the milestone announcement. To see what other milestones we will shortly pass, visit this blog Dispatches from the Near Future.

Posted by at 11:05 PM in Emerging World, Statistics, Users / Subscribers |

Comments

nike shox

Even if you consider that selling apps is not the carriers' business

Posted by: nike shox | September 07, 2010 at 02:00 AM

discounted designer handbags

I have never read such a wonderful article and I am coming back tomorrow to continue reading.

Posted by: discounted designer handbags | October 07, 2010 at 07:26 AM

Cheap Jersey

Even if you consider that selling apps is not the carriers' businesss

Posted by: Cheap Jersey | October 15, 2010 at 07:36 AM

sports hats

I am coming back tomorrow to continue reading.

Posted by: sports hats | October 16, 2010 at 10:54 AM

polo shirts

I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It is the old what goes around comes around routine.

Posted by: polo shirts | November 18, 2010 at 03:34 AM

cheap nfl jerseys

I m glad i found ur blog.Not everyone can provide information with proper flow. Good post. I am going to save the URL and will definitely visit again. Keep it up. thank you!

Posted by: cheap nfl jerseys | November 18, 2010 at 03:37 AM

cheap nfl jerseys

It is the old what goes around comes around routine.

Posted by: cheap nfl jerseys | November 18, 2010 at 03:38 AM

cheap handbags

I was reading something else about this on another blog. Interesting. Your position on it is diametrically contradicted to what I read earlier. I am still contemplating over the opposite points of view, but I'm tipped heavily toward yours. And no matter, that's what is so great about modernized democracy and the marketplace of thoughts on-line.

Posted by: cheap handbags | November 25, 2010 at 02:04 AM

Baseball Hats

I gave my site a few examples below. If you appreciate my comments in you enter.Baseball Hats

Posted by: Baseball Hats | December 02, 2010 at 04:01 AM

designer handbags

This blog is certainly excellent. Excellent work. For this reason I enjoy of keeping returning to the weblog.

Posted by: designer handbags | December 02, 2010 at 06:49 AM

Jimmy Choo

I m glad i found ur blog.Not everyone can provide information with proper flow. Good post.

Posted by: Jimmy Choo | December 17, 2010 at 02:42 AM

white iphone 4

Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!I'm still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post thanks.

Posted by: white iphone 4 | December 18, 2010 at 09:11 AM

Henry Peise

Apple's launch of the iPhone 4 white has seen the greatest excitement for a new phone ever, with HD video recording, a super high-res screen and ridiculously slim dimensions, it's not hard to see why its so popular in the world.

Posted by: Henry Peise | December 23, 2010 at 01:50 AM

white iphone 4

Take the latest white iphone 4 Conversion Kit and start to change a new look to your favorite iphone 4 now! You can sure love it!

Posted by: white iphone 4 | December 23, 2010 at 03:24 AM

iphone cases

Chaque fois que je vois blogs aussi bon que ce que je sais que je devrais cesser de surf et de commencer à travailler sur le mien!

Posted by: iphone cases | January 14, 2011 at 06:25 AM

discount jerseys

I really like this website , and hope you will write more ,thanks a lot for your information.
http://www.nfljerseysmalls.com

Posted by: discount jerseys | June 15, 2011 at 08:43 AM

nba jerseys

interested to see my best effort to split the smartphone market into 8 segments (or segment sizes, what peculiar needs a given segment (ie its customers) may have, and obviously how the major smartphone actually 10) and give my best views on those

Posted by: nba jerseys | August 03, 2011 at 03:56 PM

Nike Shoes

The article is worth reading,it makes me fell good,http://www.nike-discounts.com thanks for the bolg owner.I will keep visiting your blog.

Posted by: Nike Shoes | August 09, 2011 at 04:11 AM

renlewei

Louis Vuitton, when the first choice, especially the leather suitcase is a gentleman of many wealthy lady indispensable

Posted by: renlewei | August 17, 2011 at 11:34 AM

cheap jewelry

Thank you! The content is extremely rich.

Posted by: cheap jewelry | August 20, 2011 at 05:46 AM

Next »

The comments to this entry are closed.

Available for Consulting and Speakerships

  • Available for Consulting & Speaking
    Tomi Ahonen is a bestselling author whose twelve books on mobile have already been referenced in over 100 books by his peers. Rated the most influential expert in mobile by Forbes in December 2011, Tomi speaks regularly at conferences doing about 20 public speakerships annually. With over 250 public speaking engagements, Tomi been seen by a cumulative audience of over 100,000 people on all six inhabited continents. The former Nokia executive has run a consulting practise on digital convergence, interactive media, engagement marketing, high tech and next generation mobile. Tomi is currently based out of Helsinki but supports Fortune 500 sized companies across the globe. His reference client list includes Axiata, Bank of America, BBC, BNP Paribas, China Mobile, Emap, Ericsson, Google, Hewlett-Packard, HSBC, IBM, Intel, LG, MTS, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, Ogilvy, Orange, RIM, Sanomamedia, Telenor, TeliaSonera, Three, Tigo, Vodafone, etc. To see his full bio and his books, visit www.tomiahonen.com Tomi Ahonen lectures at Oxford University's short courses on next generation mobile and digital convergence. Follow him on Twitter as @tomiahonen. Tomi also has a Facebook and Linked In page under his own name. He is available for consulting, speaking engagements and as expert witness, please write to tomi (at) tomiahonen (dot) com

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Tomi's eBooks on Mobile Pearls

  • Pearls Vol 1: Mobile Advertising
    Tomi's first eBook is 171 pages with 50 case studies of real cases of mobile advertising and marketing in 19 countries on four continents. See this link for the only place where you can order the eBook for download

Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2009

  • Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2009
    A comprehensive statistical review of the total mobile industry, in 171 pages, has 70 tables and charts, and fits on your smartphone to carry in your pocket every day.

Alan's Third Book: No Straight Lines

Tomi's Fave Twitterati