Juniper Research's latest report predicts that the number of mobile subscribers in Brazil, Russia, India and China (collectively known as the BRIC markets) will rise from 1.21 billion in 2008 to 1.64 billion by 2013.

The growth will be fuelled by the rollout of 3G networks, cheaper (but more powerful) handsets, and more affordable data charges, claims the company's new BRIC Mobile Opportunities: Markets & Forecasts 2008-2013 report.

Specifically, it predicts that revenues from mobile data services will rise from $26 billion in 2008 to $48 billion by 2013, with China accounting for the majority of those.

All four countries are being eyed eagerly by mobile games publishers, who see them as ripe for growth in mobile gaming in the coming years.

However, the report's author Andrew Kitson is wary of assuming that mobile content will boom in the BRIC markets.

"Despite rising revenue levels, spurred by increasing service usage, some publicly-listed operators may find it difficult in the short term to maintain investment plans for new network build-out and enhancement projects, due to the limited capital-raising opportunities at this time," he says.

Juniper's view is that such investment - particularly in 3G and 3.5G - will be crucial to the growth of these markets in a mobile sense.