In the world there are already more mobile phone lines than people, according to the latest statistical data published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Specifically, in 2017 there were a total of 7.74 billion mobile lines worldwide, which represents a percentage of 103.5% of the total world population.
In developed countries, mobile phone penetration is already 127.3%. That is, there are 127.3 mobile lines per 100 inhabitants. In developing countries, penetration is 98.7%, while in least developed countries there are 70.4 lines per 100 inhabitants.
If we analyze mobile broadband subscriptions, in developed countries penetration is already close to 100% (last year it stood at 97.1%). In this case, however, the world average is quite lower, at 56.4%, and in the least developed countries it falls to 22.3%. Worldwide there are 4.22 billion mobile broadband subscriptions.
The picture for fixed telephony is very different, as it continues to lose ground every year. In this case, global penetration is only 13%. In developed countries, there are only 37.3 fixed telephone lines per hundred inhabitants. In developing countries, fixed telephony penetration is 8%, while in the least developed countries it is only 0.9%.
The following graphs show the evolution of mobile phone penetration, mobile broadband subscriptions, and fixed telephony over the last few years worldwide and according to the type of country (developed, developing, or least developed):
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