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News
Issue #2002 - 07
(February 2002)
(Updated Feb.
20, 2002)
MARKET
OUTLOOK & TRENDS
Mobile Phones to Overtake Fixed
Lines
Mobile phones will outnumber
fixed lines within months, according to the International
Telecommunications Union, a United Nations agency specializing in
the mobile phone market.
At the end of February 2001, there were 1.045 billion fixed lines
versus nearly one billion mobile phones. "Given that the growth
for mobile phones was 38 percent last year, it won’t be long"
before mobiles exceed fixed lined phones, said ITU spokesman Gary
Fowlie.
In some countries, the adoption of mobile handsets has spread so
quickly that there are more handsets than inhabitants. This is
evident in Taiwan, the ITU said.
Outlook for the Mobile Phone Market
- China and India will experience exponential growth, while
Western Europe edges closer to saturation.
- By the end of 2003, there are expected to be a total of 1.6
billion mobile phones worldwide.
- Annual growth, which exceeded 50 percent in 1999, will fall to
around 20 percent by 2003.
For more information: http://www.itu.org
(Additional source Reuters)
Mobileinfo Comments & Advisory: This
trend was expected to happen. However wireless data usage will take a
long long time to catch up with fixed line usage.
Note: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
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