Subscriber trends

The NPD Group: U.S. Mobile Phone Unit-Sales Declined 22 Percent Year-over-Year in First Quarter 2008

admin — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:18:05 +0000

First quarter 2008 U.S. revenues from handset sales reached $2.7 billion -- down 7 percent from the previous year

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, May 20, 2008 – According to The NPD Group, the leader in market research for the wireless industry, mobile phone handset sales to consumers in the U.S. reached nearly 31 million units in the first quarter of 2008, which is a 22 percent decline since the same period a year ago.

NPD estimates total first quarter 2008 consumer sales of nearly $2.7 billion, down from $2.9 billion a year ago.

Motorola W220i: Photo by Muhammad Hamidi (CC)

“For the first time since NPD has tracked handset sales, we’ve noted a decline in sales during the first quarter after the holidays,” said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD. “Cellular phone service has become a practical necessity in modern life; however, with looming economic concerns on the horizon, many consumers may be holding back on new handset purchases.” » read more »

Digicel Exceeds Six Million Customer Milestone In 2007

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:19:17 +0000

Caribbean's Largest Mobile Telecom Provider Gained Significant Ground in 2007; New Licenses and Operations Extend Reach of Pan-Caribbean Wireless Network

KINGSTON, JAMAICA -- 01/15/2008 -- Digicel, the fastest-growing telecommunications operator in the Caribbean and new entrant to the Central American market, today announced significant year-end growth achievements in 2007. As the largest GSM operator in the region, Digicel ended the year with more than six million customers, a total investment exceeding US $1.9 billion across the region and new business operations in Suriname, Guyana and El Salvador.

"Digicel's progress in 2007 reinforced our position as the Caribbean’s leading mobile service provider and demonstrated delivery of sustained growth in our current markets, strategically expanding operations in new markets and providing exciting, first-to-market technology innovations to all of our customers,” said Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO.

Digicel achieved a number of key milestones in 2007. These include: » read more »

Huge Global Growth in SMS Continues Over the 2007-2008 New Year Period

admin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:06:59 +0000

SMS Popularity Shows no Sign of Slowing as Billions do not Ring in the New Year - but Text Instead

READING, England, January 9/PRNewswire/ -- Acision, the messaging and charging company of choice for over 300 network operators and service providers worldwide, today announced that according to their figures, global SMS traffic over the 2007/2008 New Year period increased by 30 per cent compared to the same period last year. Around the world, phone users sent a staggering 43 billion text messages to wish their loved ones a happy New Year - of which more than 23 billion were successfully processed through Acision's systems.

These statistics clearly illustrate the increasing role in the communication habits of billions of people that SMS continues to play. » read more »

SingTel's regional mobile subscriber base reaches 124 million

admin — Wed, 09 May 2007 12:31:57 +0000

Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) announced that the aggregate number of mobile subscribers in the region, including its associates, has increased to 124 million as at 31 March 2007. This is the largest mobile customer base in Asia outside of China.

Compared to a year ago, the combined mobile subscriber base of SingTel, SingTel Optus and the Group’s five regional associates grew 46 per cent or by 39 million subscribers.

Compared to the previous quarter, the growth was 12 million customers. It marks the fourth consecutive quarter that the number of regional mobile subscribers has increased at a record pace.

On a proportionate to shareholding basis, SingTel’s subscriber base in the seven markets – Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – increased 38 per cent from a year ago to 46 million.

Among the associates, Bharti and Telkomsel again posted the largest subscriber growth rates. » read more »

Record increase in subscribers sees SingTel’s regional mobile subscriber base reaching 112 million

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:52:24 +0000

Three consecutive quarters of record subscriber growth achieved

Singapore, 7 February 2007 -- Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today announced that the aggregate number of mobile subscribers in the region, including its associates, exceeded 112 million as at 31 December 2006.

Compared to the previous quarter, this was an increase of 11.5 million customers. It is the highest quarterly growth in mobile numbers registered by the SingTel Group. It also marks the third consecutive quarter that regional mobile subscribers have increased at a record pace.

Compared to a year ago, the combined mobile subscriber base of SingTel, SingTel Optus and the Group’s five regional associates grew 44 per cent.

On a proportionate basis, SingTel’s subscriber base in the seven markets – Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – increased 38 per cent from a year ago to more than 42 million. » read more »