30 Countries Past 100% Mobile Phone Penetration

30 COUNTRIES PAST 100% MOBILE PHONE PENETRATION
[SOURCE: Telecommunications Online 6/9, AUTHOR: Bob Wallace]
Athletes often talk about giving 110%, but how does a country exceed 100% in mobile phone penetration? From Aruba to Italy, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong and Kuwait, the list of countries where the number of mobile phone subscriptions exceeds the size of the population continues to grow. Thirty countries had exceeded 100% cell phone penetration by the end of the first quarter of this year, according to a report released today by Informa Telecoms and Media. The group predicts that country count will reach 40 by year-end, noting that some countries, such as the UK, Sweden and Italy have already exceeded 110%. "While the proportion of the population using mobile phones has stabilized in most developed-world markets at around 80-85%, the trend among many users for buying second or even third subscriptions shows no sign of slowing," comments Devine Kofiloto, Principal Analyst at Informa Telecoms and Media.
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