MobileNest

Vnunet.com reports that analysts predict that there will be more than two billion mobile subscribers by the end of 2005 with a swift increase of mobile users jumping to three million before 2009 ends.

As a result of the high number of subscribers, mobile operators are forced to absorb a lot of the cost to support large amounts of data in the form of backhaul of voices, video, and data traffic across their networks.

“Mobile operators spent $16bn on mobile backhaul link services in 2005, and will spend double that in 2009,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics.

The increased operational expenses are expected to generate positive returns for mobile operators in coming years. In addition, new technologies will decrease the rate of should reduce capital and operation costs.

“New technology and product options are becoming available now, especially in next-generation microwave and IP/Ethernet products, where single products can efficiently handle 2G/3G voice simultaneously with 2.5G/3G/3.5G data and video traffic streams,” said Howard.

Three billion mobile users predicted by 2009 [Vnunet.com]