Asia adding mobile subscriptions at full tilt in Q1 2014

According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, released June 2014, there were 120 million new mobile subscriptions worldwide in Q1 2014, with the top five countries in terms of net additions all in Asia:

Source: Ericsson.

India with 28 million new subscriptions;

China, with 19 million;

Indonesia, 7 million;

Thailand, 6 million, and

Bangladesh, 4 million.

Ericsson notes that these five countries accounted for more than half of the new mobile subscriptions in the quarter. APAC, excluding China and India, accounted for a further 23 million subscriptions, while 5 million more came from the Middle East.

In terms of penetration rates, the Middle East is now at 107%, and APAC excluding India and China at 105%. China has a 90% penetration rate, while India is at a respectable 63%. In comparison, global peneration is at 93%.