More SIMs than people in 2013
Global mobile penetration is at 96%, expecting to blast past the world population in number by year end, according to data from the GSMA and ITU.
In its ICT Facts and Figures 2013 report, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reveals that there are currently 6.8 billion mobile subscriptions across the globe – 96% of the world’s over 7 billion population.
According to the ITU, this penetration figure is projected to surpass the 100% level in 2014.
ITU subscriptions
In the report, the ITU notes that the developed world already has a mobile penetration rate surpassing 100% (128%) while the developing world is at 86% penetration.
Separate data from the GSM Association, released in its Mobile Economy 2013 report, indicates that global subscriptions are expected to reach 7.4 billion by the end of 2013, hitting 9.7 billion by the end of 2017.
GSMA Subscriptions
Subscriptions versus Subscribers
The aforementioned data looks at subscriptions and not unique subscribers – hence, the data takes into account multiple subscriptions or active SIMs per subscriber, allowing penetration to break 100%.
This does not reflect true population penetration, but rather the number of active mobile subscriptions relative to the global population.
“By identifying inactive SIMs and multiple SIM ownership, we have developed the most accurate measurement of the global mobile subscriber base,” the GSMA said.
According to the organisation’s data, unique subscribers, globally, are only expected to pass the 4 billion mark in 2017 – with global penetration expected to hit 48.5% in 2013, with 3.4 billion subscribers.
GSMA Subscribers
The GSMA says that in Q4 2012, South Africa’s mobile penetration stood at 138% in terms of subscriptions. In terms of unique subscribers, however, the figure is significantly smaller at 66% of the population.
In 2017, these figures are both expected to increase to 171% and 79%, respectively, according to the GSMA.
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