The number of mobile internet subscribers in Latin America is set to grow by 50 percent by the end of the decade, according to GSMA.
150 million new mobile internet subscribers will be added in Latin America region by 2020, bringing the total to 450 million.
The GSMA report does not share the break-up among 2G, 3G and 4G Internet subscribers in Latin America.
“Latin America has seen rapid growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers over recent years, helping to build an ‘app economy’ in areas such as mobile commerce and mobile content, and supporting a flourishing local start-up environment,” said Mats Granryd, director general of GSMA.
GSMA said emerging telecom markets such as Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru will add millions of new mobile subscribers. The number of unique mobile subscribers in Latin America will reach 524 million by 2020 from 414 million in 2015.
Latin America will be the second-fastest growing global region during this period after Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mobile subscriber penetration will increase from 65 percent of the region’s population in 2015 to 78 per cent by 2020.
Latin America is expected to add 262 million smartphones connections4 by the end of the decade. Adoption continues to be stimulated by falling smartphone prices and a growing range of mid- and low-end devices.
Smartphones are driving migration to 3G / 4G mobile broadband networks. Operator investments in 4G mean that 4G coverage is available to 60 percent of the region’s population today and is set to cover 80 percent by next year.
“Modernising regulatory frameworks will be the next challenge in enabling future mobile services growth, fostering industry investment and maximising future digital ecosystem opportunities for Latin American economies,” said Granryd.
