Mobile connections worldwide will reach 4.99billion by 2012, and revenues will grow to US$1,019billion. Mobile connection growth in Asia Pacific will remain strong in the next four years although the region comprises emerging markets with high growth potential like Indonesia and mature markets with slowing growth such as Australia, with penetration forecasts at 67% and 122% by 2012 respectively. That’s according to the latest forecasts published by analyst and consulting firm Ovum. The report also forecasts emerging markets to continue driving mobile connection growth globally in the next four years with China and India expected to be the two largest markets in the world. Both markets will account for 31% of the world’s mobile connections with mobile penetration to reach 64% and 55% in 2012 in China and India respectively. In terms of revenue, the scale of emerging markets is expected to be the main revenue driver in absolute terms. The report’s ARPU comparison, however, suggests that although China and India will contribute 37% of connections by 2012, the two markets will only contribute to 18% of revenues, on the back of revenue growth of 96% over the next four years, driven by lower spending users.