1.5 billion GSM subscribers worldwide

Last month their were more than 1.5 billion cell phone users world wide, according to the latest subscriber data from Informa Telecoms & Media. After twelve years the one billion mark was finally hit in the first quarter of 2004 and it is expected growth from rapidly expanding markets such as China, India, Russia and the USA will ensure that the second billion will be achieved by the third quarter of 2007.

GSM continues to be the fasting growing wireless technology throughout the Americas with greater than 100% annual growth at the end of the second quarter. By adding 79.4 million new customers in one year since Q2 2004, GSM more than doubled its customer base in the Americas reaching a market share of 38.3% and becoming the #1 technology in the Western Hemisphere. More new customers in the Americas -- 79.4 million of the 85.8 total new customer base -- chose GSM than any other technology in the preceding twelve months. GSM subscribers totaled more than 158 million as of June 2005 -- 89 million customers in Latin America and the Caribbean and 69 million in the U.S. and Canada.

More info at Cellular News