Montenegro has been ranked first globally in terms of the dynamics of its mobile penetration in 2003-2008, according to the 2009 Information Economy Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

UN data shows that at the end of 2008, Montenegro’s rate of mobile penetration was 235 per cent. In 2003-2008, the number of mobile services subscribers grew by about 27 per cent per year.

In 2003, Montenegro had 420,000 mobile phone subscribers, whereas at the end of 2008 there were 1,4 million subscribers (the country’s population is 678,000). In 2008, their number grew by 190,000.

The report shows that Montenegro’s internet penetration has grown by about 24 per cent per year between 2003 and 2008, with a total penetration of 31 per cent in 2007. In 2003, it had 80000 internet users, while their number reached 200000. 

The UNCTAD report shows there were 4 billion mobile-phone subscriptions globally at the end of 2008.

Growth in 2008 slowed a little compared with 2007, but remained close to 20 per cent, with penetration rising most in developing and transition economies.

"Between the years 2003 and 2008 many of the top 20 performers in terms of increasing the level of mobile penetration are found in transition economies, as we call them, the former Soviet republics, and also many of the new EU members figure among the biggest or most dynamic economies in this context," says Torbjorn Fredriksson of UNCTAD, who coordinated the report.

"This very much reflects the fact that a mobile telephone today is seen no longer as a luxury item but really as a necessity, people don't want to give up their subscriptions once they have them," he adds.

To see the UNCTAD 2009 report click here.