10 June 2008

Global Market For Consumer Telecoms Boosted By Mobiles

The world market for consumer telecoms is forecast to reach US$2 trillion by 2012, thanks to a jump in consumer mobile services, according to a report.

Although broadband and pay TV will continue to grow, 60% of the total revenue will be derived from mobile consumer services, according to market research company In-Stat.

“The digital divide will continue to grow. By 2012 broadband penetration in developed countries will exceed 85%, while developing countries languish at less than 10% penetration” explained Keith Nissen, the analyst for In-Stat, who authored the report. “Over the next five years, 150 million PSTN lines will be eliminated; yet total voice revenue worldwide will remain steady. The ME/AFR and CALA regions will experience high mobile subscriber growth. Mobile operators in developed nations must look to new 3G applications and bundled services for increased ARPU. Despite the anticipated rapid growth of telcoTV services, in 2012, 73% of total payTV households worldwide will still be cable TV service subscribers.”

2008 is the year that revenue from Pay TV services surpasses revenues from fixed voice services.