The figure, released by the GSM Association, represents a ten fold rise from March last year when there were only three million mobile broadband internet connections worldwide.

Accompanying the uptake of connections has been a continuing improvement to the communications infrastructure, with operators upgrading their 3G networks with high speed downlink packet access (HSPDA) and growing availability of USB modems.

There has also been an increase in the number of providers offering mobile broadband access. In May 2007 there were 96 networks world wide and by March 2008 that number had risen to 166 networks in more than 70 countries.

"The uptake of mobile services such as music and video downloads as well as internet access is rising in many countries as users are experiencing the benefits of high-speed mobile wireless broadband," said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA.

Mobile broadband connections could outnumber home connections before the end of the decade, one industry website has claimed.

Recent figures from Top 10 Broadband revealed that uptake of mobile broadband has increased 50 per cent over the last six months.

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