 USD 3 035 per annum, an enormous market. It is the future market for the global mobile operators, who are all studying it carefully due the surprising rise of mobile in poor African and Asian states. In Africa for instance, from a very low base, subscribers have expanded 000% between 1998 and 2003, entirely through private investments, and mobile plays an increasingly crucial part in economic development. 32 Mobile penetration in some poor developing countries has even reached over 30% of the population, such as South Africa with 36% in December 2004. Most importantly, rising disposable income in the NICs up to 2030 is estimated to increase, changing the above table. In China for example, household incomes of near USD 5 000 at today's prices (€ 4 160, Oct 2005) are expected to be attained by some 90% of households by 2014, up from 17% now according to Credit Suisse First Boston research³³ because the numbers of households having this income are estimated to be increasing at 24% per year. Even if these figures INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030: TELECOM, LAND TRANSPORT, WATER AND ELECTRICITY - ISBN 92-64-02398-4 © OECD 2006 2. TELECOMS INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030 Table 2.10. Disposable income by region, 2004 Per cent Annual GNI/head World population 345 127 Low income 2 338 083 < USD 765 Middle income 3 006 230 USD 765-9 386 Lower middle income 2 430 310 USD 765 to 3 035 Upper middle income 575 920 USD 3 035 to 9 386 Low income and middle income 5 344 313 East Asia and Pacific 1 870 228 Europe and Central Asia 472 073 Latin America and Caribbean 541 322 Middle East and North Africa 293 994 South Asia 1 447 673 Sub-Saharan Africa 719 022 High income 1 000 814 > USD 9 386 European Monetary Union 307 446 > USD 9 386 Low income Lower middle income Under USD 3 035 2 338 083 2 430 310 768 393 % age world population 75.15 1. World Bank Indicators database, 2004, produced 15 July 2005. are too optimistic, nevertheless, the direction is clear - the numbers of Chinese able to participate is certain to grow. The consumer milestone of USD 5 