Since the turn of the century, the growth of mobile cellular subscribers has been impressive, ITU Secretary General Hamadoun Toure recently reported. Year-to-year growth is averaging 24%. In 2000 mobile penetration stood at only 12%, in early 2008 it surpassed the 50% mark. It is estimated to reach about 61% by the end of 2008.rnWhile the data shows impressive growth, ITU stresses that the figures need to be carefully interpreted. Although in theory a 61% penetration rate suggests that at least every second person could be using a mobile phone, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, the statistics reflect the number of subscriptions, not persons. Double counting takes place when people have multiple subscriptions. Also, operators' methods for counting active prepaid subscribers vary and often inflate the actual number of people that use a mobile phone.
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