Many countries now have a mobile penetration rate above 100%, report says

Telecomworldwire, June 9, 2006

TELECOMWORLDWIRE-9 June 2006-Many countries now have a mobile penetration rate above 100%, report says(C)1994-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

A new research report claims that 30 countries around the world now have a greater number of mobile phone subscriptions than the size of their population.

The study from Informa Telecoms and Media, a provider of business intelligence and strategic marketing solutions, says that countries including Hong Kong, Kuwait and the Czech Republic have a mobile phone penetration rate of over 100%, while in some markets such as Sweden, the United Kingdom and Italy the penetration rate is over 110%.

This reflects a trend for many users to buy second or third subscriptions.

Meanwhile in most markets of the developed world the proportion of the population using mobile phones has stabilised at around 80-85%, the report states.

Informa Telecoms and Media has forecast that by the end of 2006 the number of countries with a mobile penetration rate above 100% will reach 40, with Russia expected to be among the countries joining the list.

((Comments on this story may be sent to tww.feedback@m2.com))