As a result, Myanmar had one of the world's lowest mobile penetration rates.

BCP Stockbrokers notes that Europe has been at the forefront in boosting mobile penetration.

Facebook's record numbers were possible because of widespread mobile penetration.

It can also send money to under-developed countries with poor banking and mobile penetration.

In the second quarter U.S. mobile penetration exceeded 100 percent, according to an industry consultant.

The country boasts a wealth of home-grown phone apps and mobile penetration is nearly 94 percent.

There are only three wireless carriers in the South Korean market, where mobile penetration is more than 100 percent.

This is despite the country having huge potential in this area, with high mobile penetration and millions lacking bank services.

Tunisia has a population of about 10.5 million people and mobile penetration of 95 percent.

Cell users hardly constitute a niche market -after all, mobile penetration in the US, Europe, and Asia averages nearly 70 percent.

The country currently wallows at the bottom of the global list of mobile penetration at less than 10 per cent of the market.

India's mobile penetration, now at 31 percent, was below China's 47 percent and 33 percent in neighbouring Bangladesh.

India mobile penetration only recently crossed 50 percent and the number of subscribers is increasing by 16 million a month.

The mobile penetration rate in Turkey fell four percentage points to 84 percent in 2010 as users ditched multiple SIM cards.

Its mobile penetration was 88.5 percent at the end of June with subscribers numbering 66.14 million, according to data from the market regulator.

Qatar had 3.31 million mobile subscriptions at the end of 2014; mobile penetration is around 146 percent - or 1.46 subscriptions per person.