The number of global mobile users will exceed 1.75 billion in 2007

Telecom.paper: "The number of global mobile users will exceed 1.75 billion in 2007, but all mobile operators will see a steep decline in ARPU, reports the Yankee Group. The Yankee Group report, 'Data ARPUs Save the Day for Wireless Operators,' finds that operators in all parts of the globe will be spared a steep decline in ARPU, and perhaps even in revenue, thanks to increases in both penetration of data services and ARPU. Voice ARPU will continue to decline in real terms for all regions. Only the increase in data revenue will prevent total ARPU from falling as quickly, and only subscriber growth will prevent revenue from declining. In fact, global subscribers will grow nearly 9 percent from 2002 to 2007, exceeding 1.75 billion. Revenue will grow 9 percent, on average, but growth will vary from region to region: less than 5 percent for North America, 7 percent for EMEA and more than 10 percent for Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Asia-Pacific will register the strongest revenue growth (nearly 15 percent) driven by almost 20 percent expected growth in China. full article"