Mobile technology will play an increasingly important role within the emerging markets of China and India within the next few years. In these markets, the youth contingent is the untapped source which will be the driving force of mobile market expansion in the immediate future (1-2 years from now). In fact, nearly two thirds of global youth who are yet to own their first mobile phone are in the regions of South Asia and China.
Wireless World Forum’s 2006 mobileYouth report found that Western Europe was still the largest mobile youth market in 2004. However, by 2007, the Western European mobile youth market will have grown by only 11%, compared with the rate of 694% projected for South Asia. Consider this development in light of the following findings:
• Between 2006 and 2007, Asia will account for three quarters of all mobile youth market growth, in comparison with Europe and North America, which combined will account for 10% of new subscribers.
• Less than $5 billion of the industry’s $13.5 billion growth from youth spending will come from the mature markets of Western Europe, North America, and North East Asia. The remainder will be concentrated in emerging markets
• Youth spending in India will rise by $3.5 billion – a total of 50% - between 2006 and 2007. While significant, this figure is still considerably less than Chinese youth spending, which will total $14 billion in 2007.
Wireless World Forum’s 2006 mobileYouth report provides an extensive range of data and detailed analysis of these crucial developments concerning mobile youth in emerging markets and supplies a wealth of actionable advice for businesses aiming to capitalize on this situation.
