Analysys Mason: Russia set to lead CEE smartphone net additions through 2019

Smartphone net additions peaked in 2012 or 2013 in most of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), but will continue to increase in countries with larger populations (Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland and Romania), Analysys Mason forecasts. Russia will account for 38% of smartphone net additions during 2014–2019, followed by Turkey (21%). Ukraine will have the region's lowest smartphone share of handsets in 2019 (56%). 4G [LTE] will account for 32% of mobile connections in CEE by 2019. The Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovenia will lead take-up because disposable income is relatively high in these countries (GDP per capita at €20,000 [$26,587] in 2019, compared with a regional average of €13,000). 4G licensing in Turkey has suffered several delays, and the research firm said it does not expect a service launch until 2015 at the earliest. Report [PDF]