The GSM Association has revealed that global mobile broadband connectivity has increased by around 100% over the last 12 months to hit a figure of 200 million. The number of mobile broadband connections is set to increase in 2010 and despite the difficult economic backdrop is forecast to hit 342 million!
Currently there are 16 million regular UK users of mobile broadband with social networking sites considered to be the main driver with the likes of Facebook, Bebo and MySpace all very useful conversion vehicles. While the Asia-Pacific will account for around 116 million mobile broadband connections by the end of 2010 it is by far and away the most active area in the mobile broadband industry with expenditure set to hit £21.7 billion this year. North America is in second place in the capital expenditure league at £12.1 billion with Europe a poor third at £9 billion.
There is no doubt that mobile broadband is the internet delivery medium of the future and finally we are starting to see significant investment in Asia, Europe and North America although the European market is still lagging well behind Asia. It is inevitable that increased consumer demand for mobile broadband in the UK will see the likes of Orange, Vodafone, O2 and other mobile broadband providers ratchet up their investment with significant consumer expenditure up for grabs!