A new report from ABI Research indicates that by the end of 2010, there will be 5 billion mobile subscribers worldwide. By the end of first quarter there were around 4.8 billion connections worldwide. Much of this growth will come from developing markets in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. However, some developed countries in North America and Europe are continuing to add subscriptions despite already having crossed the 100 percent penetration threshold (via subscribers adding second lines and additional wireless devices). Release
Article updated June 30 to amend population statistics.