ABI Research: 3 Billion Mobile Subscribers by 2008?

According to new research from ABI Research, "at the end of September 2005, the global cellular market clocked a record 2 billion cellular subscribers. By the end of December 2005 that figure had reached 2.14 billion and is well on the way to reaching 3 billion before the end of 2008."

Jake Saunders at ABI Research said, "There is potential to push those numbers to 3.5 billion if some of the low-cost handset and infrastructure initiatives being promoted by manufacturers such as Nokia, Motorola, and Ericsson can help operators in India, China and Africa push coverage further inland and reach the smaller townships and villages."

ABI also predicted that "by the end of 2010, there will be 1 billion 3G subscribers milling around the world, which will equate to 30% of the global subscriber market."

"There are still definitely opportunities to be exploited in the mobile cellular market-place but there are also a number of new and old uncertainties," added Saunders.