40 pct of the World Online; 4.4 Billion People Unconnected

By end 2013 there will be 6.8 billion total mobile-cellular subscriptions – almost as many as there are people on the planet.

An estimated 2.7 billion people will also be connected to the Internet – though speeds and prices vary widely, both across and within regions.

Mobile broadband connections over 3G and 3G+ networks are growing at an average annual rate of 40 per cent, equating to 2.1 billion mobile-broadband subscriptions and a global penetration rate of almost 30 per cent. Almost 50 per cent of all people worldwide are now covered by a 3G network.

Full story: http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/41.aspx

Does having a really slow internet connection in parts of Thailand still count as being online?

Is this implying that the 40% are somehow in a terrible state because they can't be on facebook? If so, what a woeful state of ignorance.... just trying to get food, water that is clean, avoiding being killed by whatever nutcase ideologue seems to think "if you're not with us, you're against us and deserve to die".... No tweets like "trying to earn living driving truck, now they are going to shoot me".

I read a recent Report that stated that 47% of the world's population had no phone of any kind !