There will be 6.5bn mobile subscribers worldwide by the end of 2012, with full year handset shipments exceeding 1.67 bn, 125m more than last year. Smartphones will account for almost 40 per cent, according to the study by Portio Research.

By 2016, total global users will near 8.5bn, with growth led by African and Asian markets, which will increase by 9.4 and 9 per cent on average over the period. China will add the largest number of users, 633.4m, followed by India, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, Pakistan, the US, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Iran, adding 55.1m.

The Worldwide Mobile Industry Handbook said: “Mobile ARPU is declining worldwide due to the increased acquisition of new users from low-value and rural segments, fierce price competition and commoditisation of voice and messaging services.”

Global mobile services generated more than $1.3 trillion in revenues in 2011, this will grow 6.3 per cent on average until 2016, to $1.8 trillion.

Mobile infrastructure equipment spend is expected to reach $56.3bn by the end of the year – an increase of 3.6 per cent from 2011. It will exceed $68bn in 2016.