According to the latest figures from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in 2005 there were close to 2,200 million mobile phone lines in the world. In fact, the number of mobile phone lines now far exceeds the number of fixed phone lines in the world and mobile phone users consume services more extensively.

Recent figures from Merrill Lynch estimate that the top three markets in the world for mobile phone subscribers until the 3Q of 2006 were China (443 million), the U.S. (224 million) and Russia (147 million). Two of these three top markets hold a significant growth potential since they have lower penetration rates than Western Europe, which is already at 106%. Specifically, China holds a 34% penetration rate, the U.S. a 75%. Russia holds a 100% rate. 

Zed Group is present in the top two countries for subscribers and in eight of the top countries for mobile phone penetration.

Technologies

There are currently three types of mobile phone network in the markets where the company is present. These are:

• GSM or Global System for Mobile Communications a standard that originated in Europe. It is the main technology used in Europe and most of Asia and the Pacific region.
• CDMA or Code Division Multiple Access is a standard digital technology that was originally created in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. It is mostly used in the United States, Latin America and Canada.
• TDMA or Time Division Multiple Access is the old the U.S. standard, now being replaced by CDMA.

Type of Technologies in the operating countries of Zed Group