Mobile broadband over smartphones and tablets has become the fastest growing
segment of the global ICT market, according to International Telecommunications
Union’s (ITU’s) flagship annual report Measuring the Information Society 2013.
New figures released on 10 October show buoyant global demand for information and
communication technology (ICT) products and services, steadily declining prices for both
cellular and broadband services, and unprecedented growth in 3G uptake.
By end 2013 there will be 6.8 billion total mobile-cellular subscriptions – almost as many
as there are people on the planet.
An estimated 2.7 billion people will also be connected to the internet – though speeds
and prices vary widely, both across and within regions.
Mobile broadband connections over 3G and 3G+ networks are growing at an average
annual rate of 40 per cent, equating to 2.1 billion mobile-broadband subscriptions and a
global penetration rate of almost 30 per cent. Almost 50 per cent of all people worldwide
are now covered by a 3G network.
New data from the 2013 edition of Measuring the Information Society reveals that the
Republic of Korea leads the world in terms of overall ICT development for the third
consecutive year, followed closely by Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Finland and Norway.
The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Hong Kong (China) also rank in
the top 10, with the UK nudging into the top 10 group from 11th position last year.
ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI)* ranks 157 countries according to their level of ICT
access, use and skills, and compares 2011 and 2012 scores. It is widely recognised by
government, UN agencies and industry as the most accurate and impartial measure of
overall national ICT development.
All countries in the IDI top 30 are high-income countries, underlining the strong link
between income and ICT progress.
There are large differences between developed and developing countries, with IDI values
on average twice as high in the developed world compared with developing countries.
The report identifies a group of “most dynamic countries’, which have recorded above-
average improvements in their IDI rank or value over the past 12 months. These include
(in order of most improved): United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Barbados, Seychelles,
Belarus, Costa Rica, Mongolia, Zambia, Australia, Bangladesh, Oman and Zimbabwe.
The report also identifies the countries with the lowest IDI levels – so-called Least
Connected Countries (LCCs). Home to 2.4 billion people – one third of the world’s total
population – the Least Connected Countries are also the countries that could potentially
derive great benefits from better access to and use of ICTs in areas such as health,
education and employment.
“This year’s IDI figures show much reason for optimism, with governments clearly
prioritizing ICTs as a major lever of socio-economic growth, resulting in better access
and lower prices,’ said ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Toure. “Our most
pressing challenge is to identify ways to enable those countries which are still struggling
to connect their populations to deploy the networks and services that will help lift them
out of poverty.’
To download the report go to http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-
D/Statistics/Pages/publications/mis2013.aspx
