Mobile Subscriptions Hit 5 Billion

Mobile broadband subscriptions will reach 3.4 billion by 2015, up from from 360 million in 2009, Ericsson forecasts. Ericsson also predicts 80 percent of all people accessing the Internet will be doing so using their mobile device.

In 2000, about 720 million people had mobile subscriptions, less than the amount of users China alone has today.

The way Internet access gets used also will shift. Mobile subscriptions allow people who don't have access to a bank or a bank account to transfer money; fishermen and farmers can get quick updates on sudden changes in the weather forecast, villagers to get local medical care, and children to access online education.

Mobile subscriptions hit 5 billion mark - Ericsson