Mobile broadband users 'could top one billion in 2011'

The number of mobile broadband users worldwide is expected pass the one billion mark in the next 12 months, new research has revealed, which could mean higher take-up of VoIP solutions.

A study by handheld device maker Ericsson showed the current level of increase in the adoption of tablet computers, connected laptops and smartphones could lead to the amount of superfast mobile internet subscriptions doubling in 2011.

This would take the total to over a billion by the end of the year, the report stated.

The majority - around 400 million - will be in Asia, with the USA and Europe weighing in with 200 million each, the analysis suggested.

Last year, it continued, global mobile broadband customers reached half a billion, while data traffic via mobile networks tripled in the year from August 2009.

Looking to the future, the company predicted mobile broadband subscriptions will total more than 3.8 billion across the world by 2015.

In a recent article for ZDNet, T Jowitt said the increasing popularity among mobile networks for 4G technology could lead to a dramatic upswing in the use of VoIP services via portable devices.