In the Mobile for Development (M4D) Impact country overview series, we analyse the evolution and outlook of national mobile markets in the developing world. Each report covers a single country, combining data analysis with on-the-ground interviews to understand how the market has developed and what the future holds.

Mobile networks are now pervasive, with 2G coverage above 90% in the majority of markets and heavy investment being made by operators to bring 3G to similar levels. However, there is still a section of the population – perhaps 10-15% - living outside of coverage range.

In the GSMA Intelligence - Mobile for Development (M4D) Impact country overview series, we analyse the evolution and outlook of national mobile markets in the developing world. Each report covers a single country, combining data analysis with on-the-ground interviews to understand why that mobile market has developed as it has, and what the future holds.

Over the last decade the mobile telecoms industry has scaled dramatically. Global mobile connections surpassed 1 billion in 2002, equating to roughly one connection for every six people. By 2012 this had reached 6.5 billion connections - ten connections for every eleven people on the planet.

Around 40% of people in the developing world now actively subscribe to mobile services, with many more having access to a mobile, if not direct ownership. Mobile access in these regions has outpaced the rate at which much of the population is gaining access to basic services such as electricity, sanitation, and banking. As such, there has been increased focus on the role mobile can play in improving social, economic and environmental development in emerging markets.

The mobile industry has made good progress in ensuring LTE spectrum harmonisation on a regional basis. However, it has only recently started tackling the challenge of developing an LTE smartphone that works worldwide. Such a device would improve economies of scale for both device manufacturers and operators, while nurturing global LTE roaming and triggering the faster adoption of LTE services.

3G and 4G technologies will account for half of all global mobile connections in five years, according to GSMA Intelligence forecasts.