Global data subscription reaches 81.4m

Global wireless data subscriptions for Machine-to-Machine (M2M), have reached 81.4 million at the end of December 31, 2010.

According to the Sweden-based Berg Insight, this amounts to 46 per cent year-on-year growth.

Tobias Ryberg in a preliminary report of Berg Insight made available to ITRealms Online recently, the strong market performance was the result of a stronger focus on M2M applications in the mobile communications industry and the rise of wirelessly enabled consumer products.

He said, the United States (US) and Japan recorded growth rates of 52 and 60 per cent respectively, mainly driven by connected devices such as e-book readers and digital photo frames.

Among the world regions, Europe maintained its number one position as the number of M2M subscribers increased 43 per cent to 29.5 million. North America was up 51 per cent to 23.6 million, and followed by Asia-Pacific, growing by 53 per cent to 19.6 million.

The report also named AT&T the world’s largest provider of wireless M2M connectivity services last year, reporting 9.3 million subscribers in last quarter (Q4) of 2010.

Mr. Ryberg further said that the US operator added 4.7 million machines and consumer devices with embedded connectivity during 2010, almost doubling its subscriber base.

Previously the market leader Verizon Wireless was demoted to second place in the US and worldwide reporting 8.1 million M2M subscribers at end of 2010, despite adding 1.2 million connections over the year.

Berg Insight estimated that Vodafone, which does not currently disclose its number of M2M subscribers, ranked third having in the range of 7–8 million connections.

China Mobile was estimated to be in the fourth place with around 6 million connections, followed by T-Mobile at approximately 5 million. Telefónica, Telenor, Orange, Sprint and America Móvil were other top ten players with 2–4 million connections each.

Berg Insight offers premier business intelligence to the telecom industry by producing concise reports with key facts and strategic insights about pivotal developments in focus areas.

Remmy Nweke:
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