It seems like cellphones are everywhere today and can do nearly anything. They are MP3 players, video cameras, even Internet portals. In some of the networks in Asia, they are even used as credit cards and mobile banking devices. Which economy has the highest level of cellular phone subscribers in the world?
A. Hong Kong B. Bahrain C. Canada D. Italy
A. Hong Kong is correct.
Hong Kong has about 1,184 cellular phone subscriptions per 1,000 people, an average of nearly 1.2 phones per person, as of 2004. This makes it one of seven economies in the world that average more than one phone per person, according to the World Bank’s World Development Indicators.
The next highest rate in Asia is Singapore, which ranks 19th worldwide and has a subscription rate of about 910 subscribers per 1,000 people. Hong Kong’s subscription rate is more than 50 percent higher than Japan’s (715.96) and South Korea’s (760.91).
B. Bahrain is not correct.
Bahrain has the highest rate of cell phone subscribers among Muslim countries with a rate of about 907 subscribers per 1,000 people, ranking it 21st worldwide. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait rank 28th and 32 d respectively. All three rank higher than the United States, as does Qatar, which ranks 48th.
Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country, has only about 138 subscribers per 1,000 people; meanwhile Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has only 101 subscribers per 1,000 people. This is only half the rate of the West Bank, which ranks 92 d worldwide with a rate of about 277 subscribers per 1,000 people.
C. Canada is not correct
Canada ranks 66th in the world with about 469 cellular subscribers per 1,000 people. Similarly, the United States, with almost 617 subscribers per 1,000 people ranks, only 49th in the world.
These subscription rates put the United States and Canada behind most of Europe and the Asian tiger economies. Mexico, ranking 74th worldwide, is just behind Saudi Arabia (73 d) in cellphone penetration rates.
D. Italy is not correct.
Italy actually ranks third worldwide in rate of cell phone subscriptions and has the highest rate among Western European countries.
The United Kingdom ranks seventh, while Germany ranks 25th, and France places 42nd worldwide.
Among the newcomers to the European Union, Estonia and Slovenia rank among the top 20 in the world, and have about 940 subscribers per 1,000 people. The Russian Federation ranks 59th with about 517 subscribers per 1,000 people.
Source- http://www.boston.com
