Internet to have 3 billion users by end of 2014: ITU report

United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on 5 May 2014 released the new statistics ICT [Information and Communications Technology]. The statistics claimed that by the end of 2014 the world will have about 3 billion internet users – two-thirds of them will be from the developing world – with mobile-broadband penetration approaching 32 percent. The 3 billion people accounts for about 40 percent of world’s population.

The ICT figures also highlighted that by the end of 2014, the mobile-cellular will reach 7 billion of which over 75 percent users will be a part of developing countries.

Figurative details of for other countries and region by the end of 2014
• Africa – about one fifth of the population will have an access to Internet
• Americas – nearly two-thirds of the population will be online
• Europe – highest Internet penetration rate of 75 percent
• Asia-Pacific region – the largest population of Internet users

The statistics also claimed that in case of the mobile-broadband penetration the number of subscriptions will achieve 2.3 billion globally. Of this number 55 percent would be a part of developing world.

ITU statistics suggested that the mobile-broadband will remain the fastest growing market segment, which will be a continuous double-digit growth rates in 2014. In addition, Africa takes the lead in its growth, from 2 percent in 2010 to almost 20 percent in 2014.

About the ITU Statistics
The ITU statistics is widely recognized as the world’s most reliable and impartial global data on the state of the global ICT industry. They are used extensively by leading intergovernmental agencies, financial institutions and private sector analysts worldwide.

Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau - Brahima Sanou