![\"People](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/People-using-the-Internet.png\")
<\/a>People using the Internet<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Percentage of people using the Internet by region (2014)<\/p><\/div>\n
Decline of fixed-line<\/h3>\n
The ITU data shows that fixed-telephone penetration has been declining for the past five years, while fixed-line broadband access approaches 10% penetration, globally.<\/p>\n
“By end 2014, there will be about 100 million fewer fixed-telephone subscriptions than in 2009,” the ITU said.<\/p>\n
Additionally, fixed-broadband penetration growth (at 4.4% globally in 2014), is starting to flatten out, mostly due to a slowdown in developing countries, where fixed-broadband penetration growth rates are expected to drop from 18% in 2011 to 6% in 2014.<\/p>\n
In developed countries, fixed-broadband penetration is expected to grow at around 3.5% in 2014 compared with 4.8% in 2011.<\/p>\n
“In 2013, the number of fixed-broadband subscriptions in developing countries overtook the number in developed countries; a trend that is expected to continue, given the higher growth rates in developing countries compared with developed countries,” the ITU said.<\/p>\n
Africa accounts for less than 0.5% of the world\u2019s fixed-broadband subscriptions, ITU data shows.<\/p>\n
“Despite double-digit growth over the last four years, penetration in Africa remains very low,” the group said.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people<\/p><\/div>\n
Mobile drive<\/h3>\n
Contrasting fixed-broadband penetration, Africa is leading in mobile broadband growth, the ITU said, with mobile-broadband penetration in Africa expected to reach close to 20% in 2014,
\nup from 2% in 2010.<\/p>\n
The total number of mobile-broadband subscriptions is expected to reach 2.3 billion – with over half (55%) of those subscriptions found in the developing world, up from 20% in 2008.<\/p>\n
Mobile-broadband penetration levels are still lowest in Africa however, with only 19% of the continent connected. Mobile-broadband penetration levels are highest in Europe (64%) and the Americas (59%), followed by CIS (49%), the Arab States (25%), Asia-Pacific (23%) and Africa (19%).<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mobile broadband penetration by region<\/p><\/div>\n
Total mobile cellular subscriptions are expected to reach close to the landmark figure of 7 billion by the end of the year – more than half of which are found in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n
The increase is mostly due to growth in the developing world where mobile-cellular subscriptions will account for 78% of the world\u2019s total, the ITU said.<\/p>\n
However, the group noted that mobile growth rates have slowed to their lowest-ever level at 2.6%, indicating that the market is approaching saturation.<\/p>\n
“Africa and Asia and the Pacific – where penetration will reach 69% and 89%, respectively by end 2014 – are the regions with the strongest mobile-cellular growth, and the lowest penetration rates,” the ITU said.<\/p>\n