49% of the world has a mobile phone

There were 3.3 billion mobile phone users worldwide at the end of 2007, equivalent to a penetration rate of 49%, according to the International Telecommunications Union. Average worldwide growth was 22%, with Africa's subscriptions showing the largest gains: up 39% annually over the last two years. The ITU pointed out that nearly 90% of all telephone subscribers in Africa now use mobile phones. [Source: Cellular-News.com]