(25 February 2006 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The year 2005 saw an estimated 387 million mobile connections in Europe representing a continental penetration rate of 97 per cent. Total revenues generated in the year were estimated to exceed $176 billion.

The average spend per person is estimated to be between $550 and $680 per annum on mobile services

Sports content is playing a key role in helping European mobile operators increase the average revenue per unit.

Over 40 operators now offering sports content throughout the 15 major European markets.

These are just some of the essential findings of a recent report published by Sportcal.com, the business site for sport, on the mobile sports market.

Mobile connections increased by seven per cent last year. 3G connections increased by 200 per cent in 2005· Germany has the highest number of connections with 76 million. Italy has the highest penetration at 119 per cent.

Greece is expected to show the highest growth in connections with an estimated increase of 19.7 per cent, followed by Ireland (16.2 per cent), Spain (16.1 per cent), Italy (15.6 per cent), and Germany (15.2 per cent)

Revenues from entertainment are estimated to have increased by 60 per cent in 2005 and will increase by 243 per cent to 2009. Denmark and Portugal are expected to have the highest increase in entertainment revenue with a 283 per cent increase between 2004 to 2009