Mobile broadband to top 148 million lines by 2014

The number of mobilebroadband connections in Europe will grow to 148 million by 2014, new research suggests.

Analysys Mason has released its report titled MobileBroadband in Europe: Forecasts and Analysis 2009-2014.

This has indicated that the growth of mobilebroadband will culminate in the service accounting for half of all European internet connections in the next five years.

It also indicated a change in subscriber behaviour as a greater number of casual users will adopt prepaid mobilebroadband as a complement to their fixed line service.

Matt Hatton, principal analyst and author of the report, said: "Mobilebroadband will be the key growth driver in Europe during the next five years."

"As growth in voice service revenue stagnates, mobilebroadband provides operators with an opportunity to tap into a valuable new revenue stream - and they cannot afford to miss out."

Mr Hatton advised mobile network operators to gain a greater understanding of this new breed of consumers in order to "take advantage of the tremendous opportunity presented by mobilebroadband".

The report has also been timed to launch for the GSMA Mobile World Congress, which runs in the Spanish city of Barcelona from February 16th to 19th.