The mobile broadband market will continue its rapid growth during the next five years and generate new revenue streams for mobile network operators according to a new report, “Mobile broadband in Europe: forecasts and analysis 2009-2014,” by Analysys Mason.

There will be 148 mobile broadband connections in Europe by 2014, when they will make up nearly half of all broadband connections in the region. Prepaid subscriptions will account for 59 percent of mobile broadband connections in 2014, up from 8 percent in 2008.

“Mobile broadband will be the key growth driver in Europe during the next five years,” argues Matt Hatton, Principal Analyst, Analysys Mason and author of the report.

“As growth in voice service revenue stagnates, mobile broadband provides operators with an opportunity to tap into a valuable new revenue stream – and they can not afford to miss out.”

Mobile broadband services will generate revenue of EUR23 billion ($29 billion) in Europe in 2014, compared with EUR6 billion in 2008 ($7.5 billion), which represents a compound annual growthr ate of 46 percent.

“The key development in the mobile broadband market during the next five years will be the growing proportion of casual users,” said Hatton. “

“These subscribers will have different usage profiles from the early adopters and landline-replacement users who have dominated the customer base until now.”