UK mobile analyst firm mobileSQUARED is predicting that there will be more than 1.4 billion mobile Internet users in Asia by 2015.

This figure is astonishing and emphasises the significance the mobile industry places on Asia’s developing industry. As Telenor Group – whose investments include DTAC in Thailand and DiGi in Malaysia – said at a press conference last week, “Asia is the future”.

The announcement continues…

From the end of 2009 to the end of 2015, the number of mobile Internet users will increase by 233%, making mobile the primary Internet access channel for brands and businesses to communicate with customers.

The importance of mobile in Asia, as the primacy access point, has been much discussed (most recently here) as below.

Asia has long been regarded a market with much potential for mobile internet. The high cost of laptops of PCs combined with lack of internet delivery infrastructure, means many Asians will grow up using a mobile phone as their primary access point.

There is emphasise of the role of Asia’s three biggest influencers – China, India and Japan – and the importance of 3G (still yet to be fully available in Thailand, of course).

The continued growth of mobile powerhouses China and India will contribute over 1 billion mobile Internet users by 2015, while Japan – the world’s most advanced mobile Internet nation – will have a little over 100 million users.

The uptake of 3G will be the driving factor across the rest of Asia.

“China alone will contribute 58% of all mobile Internet users across Asia by 2015, with over 800 million users, while India will have a little over 260 million,” said mobileSQUARED chief analyst Nick Lane.

“These figures are astronomical compared to other markets around the world such as the UK where 38 million mobile Internet users are expected by 2015. However, when placed in context with the mobile growth both India and China are experiencing, the mobile Internet growth is in alignment with other developing nations.”

Southeast Asia’s major players are also noted.

After Asia’s “big three”, the next tier in terms of scale will come from Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea, contributing a combined 121.77 mobile Internet users by 2015.

Indonesia is arguably Southeast Asia’s biggest technology market; being the biggest user of Twitter, social networks and, now, the mobile internet.

There is no mention of Thailand in this announcement though these forecasts are taken from the company’s upcoming “complete guide to mobile in Asia” report which will include Thailand alongside  Japan, India, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

The report will be launched at the mobileSQUARED Roadshow in Singapore 5-6 May 2010.

The mobileSQUARED Roadshow

Disclosure: I am involved with the Roadshow, but regardless of any affiliation these research statistics are of interest and the Roadshow may well be too. Details follow.

The Roadshow, which begins in Asia before heading to the US, UK and finally South Africa, is a guide to driving revenues and awareness from mobile across each market, in this case Asia. It is designed to help a range of companies, from the mobile industry to blue-chip corporation, education, brands, media and others, create a successful mobile strategy.

The speaking roster at the Asian event includes Liverpool FC, Vodafone, Electronics Arts Mobile, Buzz City, Smart, Vodafone and more.

For more information see the agenda here and further details here.

Those wishing to attend the event can enjoy a 25% discount by registering at this link using special discount code MSQRJMR1.