Development

In use and under active development

GSM family

Further information: List_of_LTE_networks and List_of_HSPA+_networks

In 1995 telecommunication, mobile phone, integrated-circuit, and laptop computer manufacturers formed the GSM Association to push for built-in support for mobile-broadband technology on notebook computers. The association established a service mark to identify devices that include Internet connectivity.^[12] Established in early 1998, the global Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) develops the evolving GSM family of standards, which includes GSM, EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, and LTE.^[13] In 2011 these standards were the most used method to deliver mobile broadband.^{[citation needed]} With the development of the 4G LTE signalling standard, download speeds could be increased to 300 Mbit/s per second within the next several years.^[14]

IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)

Further information: List of deployed WiMAX networks

The IEEE working group IEEE 802.16, produces standards adopted in products using the WiMAX trademark. The original "Fixed WiMAX" standard was released in 2001 and "Mobile WiMAX" was added in 2005.^[15] The WiMAX Forum is a non-profit organization formed to promote the adoption of WiMAX compatible products and services.^[16]

In use, but moving to other protocols going forward

CDMA family

Further information: List of Evolution-Data Optimized service providers and List of CDMA2000 networks

Established in late 1998, the global Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) develops the evolving CDMA family of standards, which includes cdmaOne, CDMA2000, and CDMA2000 EV-DO. CDMA2000 EV-DO is no longer being developed.^[17]

IEEE 802.20

In 2002, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) established a Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) working group.^[18] They developed the IEEE 802.20 standard in 2008, with amendments in 2010.^[19]

Subscriptions and usage

Worldwide broadband subscriptions

	2007a	2010a	2013a,b
World population	6.6 billion	6.9 billion	7.1 billion
Fixed broadband	5.2%	7.6%	9.8%
Developing world	2.3%	4.2%	6.1%
Developed world	18.0%	23.6%	27.2%
Mobile broadband	4.0%	11.3%	29.5%
Developing world	0.8%	4.4%	19.8%
Developed world	18.5%	42.9%	74.8%
a Per 100 inhabitants. b Estimate.]

Broadband subscriptions by region

Fixed subscriptions:	2007a	2010a	2013a,b
Africa	0.1%	0.2%	0.3%
Americas	10.9%	14.1%	17.1%
Arab States	0.9%	1.9%	3.3%
Asia and Pacific	3.2%	5.5%	7.6%
Commonwealth of Independent States	2.3%	8.2%	13.5%
Europe	18.4%	23.6%	27.0%
Mobile subscriptions:	2007a	2010a	2013a,b
Africa	0.2%	1.8%	10.9%
Americas	6.4%	22.9%	48.0%
Arab States	0.8%	5.1%	18.9%
Asia and Pacific	3.1%	7.4%	22.4%
Commonwealth of Independent States	0.2%	22.3%	46.0%
Europe	14.7%	28.7%	67.5%
a Per 100 inhabitants. b Estimate.

It is estimated that there were 6.6 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide at the end of 2012 (89% penetration), representing roughly 4.4 billion subscribers (many people have more than one subscription). Growth has been around 9% year-on-year.^[11] Mobile phone subscriptions are expected to reach 9.3 billion in 2018.^[7]
At the end of 2012 there were roughly 1.5 billion mobile broadband subscriptions growing at a 50% year-on-year rate.^[11] Mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to reach 6.5 billion in 2018.^[7]
Mobile data traffic doubled between the end of 2011 (~620 Petabytes in Q4 2011) and the end of 2012 (~1280 Petabytes in Q4 2012).^[11] This traffic growth is and will continue to be driven by large increases in the number of mobile subscriptions and by increases in the average data traffic per subscription due to increases in the number of smartphones being sold, the use of more demanding applications and in particular video, and the availability and deployment of newer 3G and 4G technologies capable of higher data rates. By 2018 total mobile broadband traffic is expected to increase by a factor of 12 to roughly 13,000 PetaBytes.^[7]
On average, a mobile PC generates approximately seven times more traffic than a smartphone (3 GB vs. 450 MB/month). By 2018 this ratio is likely to fall to 5 times (10 GB vs. 2 GB/month). Traffic from smartphones that tether (share the data access of one device with multiple devices) can be up to 20 times higher than that from non-tethering users and averages between 7 and 14 times higher.^[7]
Note too that there are large differences in subscriber and traffic patterns between different provider networks, regional markets, device and user types.^[7]
Demand from emerging markets has and continues to fuel growth in both mobile phone and mobile broadband subscriptions and use. Lacking a widespread fixed line infrastructure, many emerging markets leapfrog developed markets and use mobile broadband technologies to deliver high-speed internet access to the mass market.