The number of global broadband subscriptions will grow from over 480 million last year to 500 million in 2010, as more households and businesses take up IP telephony solutions like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which need a broadband connection, Informa Telecoms & Media has predicted.

The UK has the sixth highest number of fixed broadband subscriptions in the world - over 18 million - underlining the possibility for VoIP hardware distribution.

Growth in data revenues was boosted by an increased take-up of more advanced technologies and mobile broadband services, said Mark Newman, chief research officer at Informa Telecoms & Media.

Business advisory firm Deloitte recently predicted that use of mobile VoIP will become increasingly common this year, and Informa that mobile service takings will top £620 billion, despite returns from voice calls dropping.

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