50 billion device connections by 2020: Ericsson

Those looking for proof of the explosive growth in mobility need look no further than the latest stats on growth in the segment released by Ericsson.

According to the telecommunications infrastructure provider, official estimates place the provisioning of the five billionth mobile subscription on 8 July.

The figure compares dramatically with the total number of global mobile subscriptions in 2000 – a relatively modest 720 million.

According to the company, the growth in mobile broadband shows no signs of slowing, with an average two million new subscriptions being added daily.

Mobile broadband is also growing explosively, with subscriber growth tipped to boom from 360 million in 2009 to some 3.4 billion by 2015.

The company is also tipping machine-to-machine communications (M2M) as a key component in the future growth of the mobile industry, driven by devices such as smart meters, tracking solutions in the logistics industry, digital signage, cameras, and vending machines which can reorder for themselves.

Up to 50 billion devices are expected to be connected by 2020.

Commenting on mobility growth in Australia, Ericsson A/NZ strategic marketing manager, Warren Chaisatien, said Australian mobile broadband growth continued unabated, with user numbers expected to reach 3.2 million in mid-2010.

“At 15 per cent of the population, Australia remains a mobile broadband world leader, currently ranked third globally behind Austria and Sweden,” he said in a statement.

"The Australian mobile broadband market is now entering its second wave, where one size no longer fits all, mobile broadband is complementing fixed broadband rather than cannibalising it, and prepaid and smartphones are fast emerging to join dongles. Service innovation, product differentiation and user experience - rather than pricing - will be the key factors going forward."

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