Global smartphone subscriptions to double by 2020: Ericsson

Global subscriptions for smartphones will more than double by 2020, helping mobile data traffic to ninefold, the world's largest telecoms network gear maker Ericsson predicted on Wednesday.

Global subscriptions for smartphones will more than double by 2020, helping mobile data traffic to ninefold, the world's largest telecoms network gear maker Ericsson predicted on Wednesday.

The Swedish company said it expected there will be 6.1 billion smartphone subscriptions globally by the end of 2020, up from 2.6 billion in 2014.

'Advanced mobile technology will be globally ubiquitous by 2020 with 70% of people using smartphones and 90% covered by mobile broadband networks,' it said in its semi-annual Mobility Report.

Ericsson made no major changes compared to its previous forecast in November.

It said video is expected to increase its share of total mobile traffic in 2020 to 60%, up from an earlier projection of 55% and compared to around 45% in 2014.