As much fuss as we make about 3G, the impact it has on the mobile experience, and the death of old-school GSM as a viable technology, deployed WCDMA networks in their various forms are still just a drop in the bucket when compared to the GSM subscriber pool as a whole -- even in 3G-rich Europe. A new report from market research firm Informa Telecoms and Media reveals that European 3G users now number 101.5 million, which works out to about 11.1 percent of the some 910.8 million wireless users in the continent. Norway, Sweden, and Italy all individually broke 25 percent 3G penetration, but even so, that paints a very interesting picture of the overwhelming importance of the legacy infrastructure. With
EDGE Evolution on the way, it could continue to play a majority role well into the next decade, too.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tom @ Jun 30th 2008 4:45AM
3G penetration is higher in north american than Europe, the reason- There is no competing technology!!! Keep that in mind all you people who long for a global standard.
Dan @ Jun 30th 2008 6:52AM
I suspect these figures are way off. The trend across most of Europe is to buy a new phone each year and since almost all new phones in Europe are 3G I suspect a far larger proportion of the phones in *active* use are 3rd generation. The high number of 2G (more likely 2.5G actually) phones still knocking about are more likely forgotten pre-pay phones now sat in the back of drawers that still count as active subscriptions but haven't been used in yonks.
Pdexter @ Jun 30th 2008 10:43AM
Yep. There was a study about Finlands 3G use and 71% of phones bought are 3G phones. Plus 41% of phones are 3G phones.
Thought dunno this is first time i see whole European figures. They do seem very low by some reason.
thedesolate1 @ Jun 30th 2008 11:16AM
I love GSM and the freedom it gives is priceless..
KilgoreTrout @ Jun 30th 2008 4:09PM
What? The freedom to take a nap while you wait to download a file?
Elias C. @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:54AM
Keep in mind that just because you buy a 3G phone, doesn't mean you use 3G. I had two 3G phones that I almost never used in regards to that feature. I am not surprised by this information. Calling is still the best thing you can do with a cell phone, which is why is so shocking that their are a lot of phones out there that are not that great at it. Its also amusing that everyone picks on Motorola for not providing 3G with their phones, then we find out almost no one actually uses it!
James Stewart @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:28AM
"910.8 million wireless users" in Europe. hmm total population including Russia, Kazakhstan etc is about 700m, EU = 500m. I'd like to see those calculations and figures in more detail!