Mobile phone subscriptions to top 5 billion

Mobile phone subscriptions globally are likely to buck the economic crisis and top five billion in 2010, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) annual report on developments in the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector.
The report stated that by the end of 2009, there were 4.6 billion mobile subscriptions globally, with a penetration rate of 67 per cent. In developing countries, the penetration rate reached 57 per cent, more than double its 2005 level of 23 per cent. In developed countries, it averaged more than 100 per cent - more than one subscription per head.
"Demand for mobile telephony is fairly resilient with consumers willing to spend their disposable income on mobile services even at times of financial constraints," statistician Esperanza Magpantay said at a news briefing at the launch of the ITU's 2010 report on Measuring the Information Society.

Mexican mogul Slim edges out Gates as world's richest person

 Forbes magazine released its annual list of the world's richest people last month and for only the second time since 1995, Microsoft founder Bill Gates' name was not at the top.

This year, the title of "World's Richest" went to Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim, with a net worth of 53.5 billion US dollars. Slim, whose holding company, America Movil, contains a sprawling collection of telecom assets, is the first non-American to be declared Forbes' richest person, since 1994