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Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions

– Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology.

Italy Mobile Cellular SubscriptionsMillion · 2015–2024

908580752015: 87.69Peak2016: 85.962017: 83.872018: 83.342019: 79.482020: 77.58Trough2021: 78.112022: 78.502023: 78.462024: 78.6720152017201920212024
Source: data.worldbank.orgLast updated: April 2026

What Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions shows

Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 78.67 Million in 2024, up 0.3% on 2023. Italy’s mobile cellular subscription landscape from 2015 to 2024 offers a fascinating and complex narrative of a hyper-mature market navigating the absolute peak of digital saturation. Starting at a staggering 87.69 million subscriptions in 2015 and adjusting to a still-massive 78.67 million by 2024, the data reflects a sophisticated process of market consolidation and optimization.

Trend

Lower over the period

Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 87.69 Million in 2015 to 78.67 Million in 2024 (−10.3%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 87.69 Million in 2015 and the low 77.58 Million in 2020.

Volatility

A 11.5% peak-to-trough swing

The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2020) is 10.11 Million. The sharpest single-year move was −4.6% in 2019.

Structure

Ranks 17 of 33 countries covered

Among the 33 countries in this dataset, Italy ranks 17 for 2024, behind China (1,870 Million) and India (1,150 Million). It accounts for 0.9% of the global total in 2024.

Full series

Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by year

Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Million.

Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions, 2015–2024, Million.
YearMillionChange vs prior year
2024 78.67 +0.3%
2023 78.46 −0.1%
2022 78.50 +0.5%
2021 78.11 +0.7%
2020 Trough77.58 −2.4%
2019 79.48 −4.6%
2018 83.34 −0.6%
2017 83.87 −2.4%
2016 85.96 −2%
2015Peak 87.69 —

Regional context

How Italy compares in Europe & Central Asia

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by country, 2024, Million. Italy is highlighted.

1Russia
269.5
2Germany
109.2
3UK
84.10
4Italy
78.67
5Spain
62.41
6Netherlands
23.43
7Sweden
14.92
8Denmark
7.57

About this indicator

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions — – Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology. It includes both postpaid subscriptions and active prepaid SIM cards that have been used within a specified period (typically the last three months).

This era represents a breathtaking period where the quality of connectivity has far surpassed the mere quantity of SIM cards. The Italian telecom sector is a marvel of resilience, boasting a hyper-advanced infrastructure that successfully managed the monumental transition to high-speed 5G technology. Despite the numerical fluctuations, the nation’s appetite for data-intensive applications, immersive streaming, and secure mobile commerce has grown to an insatiable level. This is a society where mobile devices are as essential as oxygen, and the infrastructure has evolved into a high-capacity digital backbone that supports a truly hyper-connected population. Italian telecom providers have demonstrated heroic commitment to network hardening and spectrum innovation, ensuring that the nation remains at the forefront of the global communications age. The shift toward more efficient, data-centric subscription models highlights a tech-savvy population that demands—and receives—top-tier communication services. This dataset is not merely a record of numbers; it is a definitive portrait of a digital powerhouse that has mastered the art of balancing extreme market maturity with radical, cutting-edge innovation. Italy continues to set a global benchmark for how an advanced economy can maintain a sophisticated and high-performing telecom ecosystem even at the limits of saturation. It remains a vibrant laboratory for digital services, proving that a mature market can continuously reinvent itself through an unwavering commitment to technological excellence and total, high-velocity national connectivity.

Indicator
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions
Country
Italy
Region
Europe & Central Asia
Unit
Million
Coverage
2015–2024, annual
Category
ICT & Media
Last updated
April 2026
Source
data.worldbank.org

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Frequently asked questions

What is Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?

Definition – Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology. It includes both postpaid subscriptions and active prepaid SIM cards that have been used within a specified period (typically the last three months). Inclusions – The data includes all active mobile cellular subscriptions offering voice communication services, covering both prepaid and postpaid accounts. It encompasses subscriptions across analogue and digital cellular technologies (including 2G, 3G, and 4G systems) and is compiled from telecom operators and regulatory authorities, typically aggregated at the national level. Exclusions – The data excludes subscriptions used solely for mobile data services such as USB modems or data cards, as well as private trunked mobile radio, radio paging, telepoint systems, and telemetry services. It also does not capture inactive SIM cards or non-voice-based mobile connectivity services.

What was Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions in 2024?

Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 78.67 Million in 2024, up 0.3% on 2023.

How has Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions changed between 2015 and 2024?

Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 87.69 Million in 2015 to 78.67 Million in 2024 (−10.3%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 87.69 Million in 2015 and the low 77.58 Million in 2020.

Which year had the highest and lowest Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?

The highest value was 87.69 Million in 2015 and the lowest was 77.58 Million in 2020.

Where does the Italy Mobile Cellular Subscriptions data come from?

The series is sourced from data.worldbank.org (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Million.

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