The number of new mobile phone subscribers in the world fell sharply in the fourth quarter of last year, according to data compiled by Informa Telecoms & Media.

The figures show that the total of new subscribers to a mobile phone service fell 15% to 162m in the last three months of 2008.

"We do have to take into account the impact of market saturation and the recent restructuring of the world's largest mobile market - China - which led to a temporary slowdown in growth," said Nick Jotischky of Informa Telecoms & Media.