Mobile-cellular subscriptions reached almost 6 billion in 2011

According to ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, released in June 2012, total mobile‐cellular subscriptions reached almost 6 billion by end 2011, corresponding to a global penetration of 86%,
Growth was driven by developing countries, which accounted for more than 80% of the 660 million new mobile‐cellular subscriptions added in 2011. In 2011, 142 million mobile‐cellular subscriptions were added in India, twice as many as in the whole Africa, and more than in the Arab States, CIS and Europe together.

 By end 2011, there were 105 countries with more mobile‐cellular subscriptions than inhabitants, including African countries such as Botswana, Gabon, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa.

Countries where mobile‐cellular penetration increased the most in 2011 include Brazil, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Lao P.D.R. and Mali.

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