The global mobile customer base has grown from 945 million in 2001 to 2.6 billion in 2006, according to consulting and research firm IDATE.

In 2001, more than 60 percent of the base, or 576 million, came from industrialised countries, while 369 million were from developing countries. In 2006, however, those in developing countries have surpassed those in industrialised countries, with 1.7 billion, or 66 percent, versus the 886 million in industrialised countries.

In terms of penetration, or the number of customers/lines per 100 inhabitants, the rate in industrialised countries was already 60.9 percent in 2001, while in developing countries it was merely 7.4 percent. In 2006, the rate in industrialised countries reached 91.8 percent, which is almost saturated, while in developing countries, the rate grew to 32.1 percent, still having much room to grow, IDATE reported.