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GSM users to hit 1 billion during 1Q

LONDON-GSM operators will count 1 billion users by the end of the first quarter 2004, according to predictions from the GSM Association.

More than 180 million GSM users were added during 2003, representing 80 percent of new mobile-phone subscribers worldwide, according to the GSM Association. At the end of 2003, GSM subscribers totaled 970 million.

During 2003, the Asia Pacific region added more than 70 million users, with China adding 42.8 million new users. Europe added 42 million new GSM users; Russia added 16 million users; India and North America added more than 10 million new users each; and African and Arabian countries each accounted for more than 9 million new GSM users.

“By taking 80 percent of growth in 2003, GSM outperformed the market and reinforced its position as the global standard for mobile communications,” said Rob Conway, chief executive of the GSM association.

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