The usage of mobile phones continues to rise in developing economies. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Information Economy Report 2007-2008, mobile telephony has emerged as the most appropriate ICT tool in developing countries. In developing countries, mobile communications have penetrated even in the remotest parts and the number of mobile subscribers has almost tripled in the last five years. The below-mentioned tabular calculations (2004 – 2006) are based on ITU World Telecommunication/ICT indicators database.
Mobile phone subscribers by level of development and region
2004 |
Percentage change 2004- 2005 |
2005 |
Percentage change 2005- 2006 |
2006 |
|
Developing economies | 893760760 |
31.0 |
1170638544 |
32.1 |
1546324643 |
Africa | 77608792 |
69.9 |
131863273 |
43.7 |
189497105 |
Asia | 641318745 |
24.6 |
798880468 |
32.0 |
1054509700 |
Latin America and the Caribbean |
174347694 |
37.2 |
239249946 |
26.1 |
301640938 |
Oceania | 485529 |
32.8 |
644857 |
5.0 |
676900 |
Transition economies | 123959088 |
49.6 |
185487407 |
23.8 |
229579600 |
Mobile phone subscribers by level of development and region
2004 |
Percentage change 2004- 2005 |
2005 |
Percentage change 2005- 2006 |
2006 |
|
Developing economies | 17.6 |
28.9 |
22.7 |
30.1 |
29.5 |
Africa | 9.0 |
64.0 |
14.7 |
39.2 |
20.5 |
Asia | 17.5 |
23.1 |
21.5 |
30.5 |
28.1 |
Latin America and the Caribbean |
31.8 |
35.3 |
43.1 |
24.1 |
53.5 |
Oceania | 5.7 |
31.4 |
7.5 |
2.8 |
7.7 |
Transition economies | 37.6 |
48.6 |
55.9 |
23.9 |
69.3 |
(Mobile phone subscribers per 100 inhabitants)