LONDON-The GSM Association said it believes the number of Global System for Mobile
communications subscribers worldwide for 1998 will number 135 million.
“We believe that around 65 million
customers signed up for GSM services in 1998, almost doubling the previous year’s total, taking GSM to 45 percent of
the world wireless market, or 62 percent of the global digital market,” said Richard Midgett, chairman of the
GSM Association. “On the back of this, we predict with confidence that the 1999 year-end total could soar as
high as 250 million.”
By mid-1998, China became the single largest GSM market in the world, maintaining its
lead to reach more than 18 million by the end of the year. In North America, customer totals are expected to reach more
than 3 million for 1998.
