Emerging Markets Will Drive Mobile Networking Growth Over Next Five Years, Pyramid Finds

PRNewswire
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.
(:UBM.L)
Nov 6, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the current global economic downturn, the number of mobile network subscribers worldwide will continue to grow at a rate of nearly 8 percent annually through 2013, with 90 percent of that growth coming from emerging economies, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (http://www.pyr.com/), the telecom research arm of Light Reading Communications Group (http://www.lightreading.com/).

"Mobile Subscriber & Revenue Forecast 2008-2013: Emerging Market Opportunities" delivers a complete five-year worldwide forecast for mobile network subscribers, including market penetration rates by region and service revenues by region. The 10-page report, which incorporates data and analysis from Pyramid's global team of regional analysts, also identifies the top 20 national growth markets over the next five years and provides comparative current data on average revenue per user (ARPU) by region.

"Worldwide mobile subscriptions will grow from 4.0 billion this year to 5.85 billion in 2013, for a compound average growth rate of nearly 8 percent," notes Leslie Arathoon, Vice President of Research at Pyramid and co-author of the report. "About 90 percent of the new subscriptions will come from emerging markets."

Asia/Pacific, already the world's biggest market for mobile services by subscriber count, will continue to be the top region for mobile subscriber growth, while Africa and the Middle East will surpass other regions to become the second-largest mobile market by subscriber count by 2013, Arathoon adds. Other key findings of "Mobile Subscriber & Revenue Forecast 2008-2013: Emerging Market Opportunities" include the following:

  --  Between 2008 and 2013, the number of mobile subscriptions will
      increase from 4 billion to 5.85 billion, at a compound annual growth
      rate of 7.9 percent. Africa and the Middle East as well as Asia will
      account for the biggest subscriber gains, while Europe will see its
      share of the global subscription base shrink.
  --  By 2013, global mobile subscription penetration will top 83 percent,
      compared with an expected 60 percent penetration rate at year-end
      2008.
  --  The global market for mobile voice and data communications services
      will be worth US$908 billion in 2008. We expect market revenue to grow
      at a CAGR of 6.0 percent over the next five years to reach $1.2
      trillion by 2013.

"Mobile Subscriber & Revenue Forecast 2008-2013: Emerging Market Opportunities" is part of Pyramid Research's Global Market Perspective report series. Event-driven and packed with pointed analysis, Perspectives offer objective insight into trends revealed in Pyramid Research's Forecast products, covering nearly 100 markets around the globe.

For more information, and to purchase this report, click here: http://www.pyr.com/store/scon_glbl_100803.htm

About Pyramid Research (http://www.pyr.com/)

Pyramid Research offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media, and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies, and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for more than 100 countries -- a distinction that has remained unmatched for over 20 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research has integrated with Heavy Reading to provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world.

About Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com/)

Founded in 2000, Light Reading is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the $3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb (http://techweb.com/aboutus)

TechWeb, the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections

About United Business Media Limited (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/)

United Business Media Limited (UBM) is a global media and marketing services company that informs markets and brings the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print, and with the information they need to do business successfully. UBM serves professional and commercial communities, from IT professionals to doctors, from journalists to jewelry dealers, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. UBM employs more than 6,500 people in more than 30 countries. UBM's businesses operating in the US include CMPMedica, Commonwealth Business Media, Everything Channel, PR Newswire, RISI, TechInsights, TechWeb and Think Services. UBM is listed on the London Stock Exchange (UBM.L) and has a market capitalization of $2.5 billion.

  Press contact:
  Jennifer Baker
  +1 617 494 1515 ext. 272
  jbaker@pyr.com

SOURCE: Pyramid Research

CONTACT: Jennifer Baker of Pyramid Research, +1-617-494-1515 ext. 272,
jbaker@pyr.com

Web Site: http://www.pyr.com/