The nation’s cell phone penetration rate is expected to reach 101 percent of the total population next year.

KT DigiEco forecast Tuesday that the number of cell phone subscriptions will jump by two-point-eight percent next year from this year to stand at around 49-point-five million.

The research institute added, however, that the average nine-percent growth in the number of mobile phone subscribers between 2000 and 2007 shows that the cell phone market needs to focus on qualitative changes.

The institute added that although the sales earned via talking on cell phones is expected to slide one-point-eight percent next year, overall sales in the cell phone market are expected to rise one-point-eight percent to stand at 22-and-a-half trillion won. In addition, sales from wireless internet services via cell phones are expected to rise more than 16 percent.

The institute also projected that broadcasting and telecommunications services will see sales go up nearly four percent to stand at around 61 trillion won next year.