There were a total of 3.3 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide by the end of last year, more than three times as many landline connections, according to data collected by Infonetics Research.

The number of wireless users jumped 31% in 2007, mostly due to strong subscriber growth in the heavily populated “BRIC countries” (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). The global landline telephone market declined 5% in the same period.

“Subscribers in Brazil, Russia, and later this year China, are migrating to 3G, which in turn will lead to a 2G and 2.5G to 3G subscriber migration process in 2008. However, current GSM deployment patterns remain unabated, with double-digit GSM subscriber growth rates being common in BRIC countries,” commented Infonetics principal analyst, Stéphane Téral.

If current trends continue, there will be 5.2 billion cell phone subscriptions worldwide by 2011. 3G mobile broadband services will account for a growing proportion of wireless revenue, meanwhile, growing at a compound annual rate of 104% through 2011, by which time there will be one mobile broadband subscriber for every four wireline broadband users.

Source:www.teleclick.ca/2008/08/brazil-russia-india-and-china-fuel-growth-of-global-wireless-industry