Nokia has confidently defended its forecast that the global mobile phone market will grow by 10 per cent in 2005 and claimed that growth could be stronger if sales of 3G handsets take off later in the year.

The Finnish group's forecast of a 10 per cent volume growth rate has been questioned by several analysts who believe the influx of new subscribers in emerging markets will slow in 2005. But Jorma Ollila, chief executive of Nokia, said he was ?confident? the figure would be reached, adding that it could be higher.