Mohammadi News Agency News – Features – Photo
MNA Science & Tech Desk: The number of mobile phone users globally will surpass five billion by the middle of this year, according to a study released Monday by GSMA, the association of mobile operators.
With populations in Asia, and notably India, on the rise, the number, which stood at 4.8bn a year ago, should mushroom to 5.7 billion, or three quarters of the world’s population, by 2020.
Asia will account for around half total growth, according to GSMA’s ‘Mobile Economy’ report with India alone adding some 310 million new subscribers in the coming three years.
The study also showed a trend towards mobile broadband networks and smartphones, said the study, which highlighted the mobile industry’s growing contribution to economic activity and social development.
The report said the mobile ecosystem last year employed 28.5 million people directly or indirectly, a figure it said would rise to 30.9 million by 2020.
It added the sector would contribute $500bn in tax receipts by 2020, up from $450 billion last year, not including revenue from spectrum auctions, worth almost $19 billion in 2016.
Operators are forecast to invest a further $700 billion by 2020 when 5G connectivity is set to bring ever faster data connection.
