The total number of mobile subscriptions worldwide as of Q4 2013 reached 6.7 billion, of which 109 million
were new subscriptions added during Q4, according to Ericsson's latest Mobility Report.
Some key findings:
- The actual number of subscribers is around 4.5 billion, since many have several subscriptions.
- Global mobile penetration was 92 percent in Q4 2013.
- China and India each accounted for around 20 percent of net additions, adding approximately 20 million subscriptions.
- Mobile subscriptions have grown around 6 percent
- year-on-year and 1.5 percent quarter-on-quarter.
- In Q4 2013, mobile broadband subscriptions grew by around 150 million to 2.1 billion, reflecting a 40 percent year-on-year increase.
- WCDMA & HSPA subscriptions grew by around 70 million and LTE subscriptions increased by
- approximately 40 million, reaching 200 million.
- The total number of subscriptions capable of using GSM grew by 100 million, while GSM-only subscriptions were flat.
- There is continued strong growth in smartphone subscriptions globally, despite a moderating rate of growth in regions such as North America.
- Around 1 billion smartphones were sold in 2013. This device represented close to 60 percent of all mobile phones sold in Q4 2013, compared to around 45 percent in Q4 2012. Of all mobile phone subscriptions, around 30 percent are associated with smartphones, leaving considerable room for further uptake
- LTE subscriptions reached 200 million in Q4 2013
The report shows that close to 60% of all mobile phones sold in Q4 2013 were smartphones, compared to around 45 percent in Q4 2012. The report also shows that data traffic grew 70% between Q4 2012 and Q4 2013.
