4.6 billion mobile subscriptions by the end of 2009

Date: 7/10/2009

Mi-Pay welcomes latest ITU statistics that reveal a thriving global ICT industry, driven by the mobile sector,

ITU's latest statistics, published in The World in 2009: ICT facts and figures, reveal rapid ICT growth in many world regions in everything from mobile cellular subscriptions to fixed and mobile broadband, and from TV to computer penetration - with mobile technology acting as a key driver. It confirms that despite economic recession mobile growth is continuing unabated. Global mobile subscriptions are expected to reach 4.6 billion by the end of the year, and mobile broadband subscriptions to top 600 million in 2009, having overtaken fixed broadband subscribers in 2008.

It seems that Mobile technologies are also making major inroads toward extending ICTs in developing countries, with a number of nations launching, and commercially offering, IMT2000/3G networks and services.

This is all good news for Mi-Pay, who anticipate that mobile growth will continue to push demand for convenient mobile and online domestic and international topup; and also continue to drive the evolution of mobile financial services as 'mobile as a channel' becomes a prime focus for banks, merchants, retailers and agents.