Cellular modems to hit 83m by 2013

According to a recent study from ABI Research, over 83 million embedded cellular modem units are expected to be sold by 2013, says Market Watch.

GSMA's Mobile Broadband Service Mark initiative, backed by media spending of $1 billion, is creating an awareness of laptops with embedded connectivity. Other drivers include Qualcomm's Gobi chipset; lower mobile broadband pricing; and networks maintaining their current evolution data optimised and HSDPA interfaces for at least two more years.

ABI Research forecasts that these and other market forces could increase embedded cellular modem sales to nearly $9 billion in 2013. However, ABI Research principal analyst Dan Shey observes that the current negative economic environment remains a barrier.

The number of mobile cellular subscribers worldwide will reach the four billion mark by the end of 2008, the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) revealed, according to Ohmy News.

The number of subscribers has surged nearly 25% annually for the past eight years. Mobile penetration, which stood at only 12% in 2000, is growing to reach over 60% by the end of 2008.

"The fact that four billion subscribers have been registered worldwide indicates that it is technically feasible to connect the world to the benefits of ICT and that it is a viable business opportunity," says ITU secretary-general Hamadou Toured.

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank group, will help expand the availability of affordable mobile telephone services in India by supporting Idea Cellular, a local mobile telephone company, says Deepikaglobal.com.

Idea Cellular MD Sanjeev Aga says the IFC's $100 million loan would help strengthen Idea's network in its existing markets and enable the extension of services to Bihar.

The loan would also help establish a national long-distance network to meet the growing demand for services, he adds.