The next wave of mobile Internet users will be from urban areas of emerging markets, according to new research from Ovum. The lack of fixed Internet infrastructure in these markets and the significant purchasing power of urban residents are pushing both end users and service providers toward mobile broadband. Operators and content providers should therefore step up to help the next billion progress to a smarter mobile Internet experience, the research firm notes. The research company also highlighted the correlation between the growth of the mobile Internet and the adoption of "smart" devices in emerging markets. While the installed base of smartphones accounted for just over 20 per cent in emerging markets at the end of 2012, Ovum estimates that it will reach nearly 50 per cent by 2017, which translates to over 2 billion devices. Report