SFN report: China lead in global mobile market as of 2007 year-end

Posted by Erina Lin on November 13, 2009 at 3:48 PM

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As of the end of 2007, China was the leading mobile market in the world, with more than 500 million subscribers. This figure was up from about 300 million in 2004, with a net addition of more than 50 million each year, according to IDATE.

The United States was the second largest mobile market, with more than 250 million subscribers at the end of 2007. The market was relatively mature as it reached nearly 200 million in 2004, and grew less than 25 million annually, SFN's World Digital Media Trends 2009 reported.

India followed close behind, with more than 200 million. In 2004, there were only about 50 million subscribers. The numbers increased rapidly, with more than 50 million in 2006 and 2007.

Russia and Brazil were ranked in the fourth and fifth spots at the end of 2007, both marking significant increases from 2004, according to IDATE.

Japan, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom were also on the list, but were relatively saturated markets, with fewer additional increases each year compared with the developing markets.

Pakistan, another emerging market, reported small numbers in 2004, but those numbers rose rapidly, reaching about 80 million in 2007, according to the report, World Digital Media Trends 2009, released by SFN and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers.