Gartner Dataquest reports 52 percent increase in Asia/Pacific mobile phone subscribers
"Against a backdrop of improved prosperity and favorable government policies, the cellular industry in China is expanding as a result of increased competition, lower terminal prices and service packages, as well as the rapid adoption of prepaid services," said Ann Liang, Industry Analyst for Gartner Dataquest's Asia/Pacific Mobile Research Group. "Even without further acceleration in subscriber numbers, there is clearly room for strong sustained growth, especially with the introduction of new networks and new mobile players into the market, and the impact of accession to the World Trade Organization."
The study also revealed 6.3 million mobile phone subscribers in the Philippines for 2000, a 132 percent increase from the previous year. In addition, in the Indian cellular market, subscribers surpassed 3.1 million, an increase of 97 percent
"After several years in the doldrums, the Indian cellular market has at last begun to rack up significant subscribers which, in future years, could replicate the type of growth patterns that China has enjoyed," said Kobita Desai, Industry Analyst for Gartner Dataquest's Mobile Research in India. "With the introduction of further competition, we anticipate an acceleration in the process of mergers, acquisitions and alliances among cellular operations resulting in a handful of financially sound operators."
According to Gartner Dataquest, the report also highlighted a demand for mobile Internet services across the Asia/Pacific region. The company estimates that there were 34.4 million regular mobile Internet users in the region at the end of 2000, an increase of 29 percent from the end of September 2000.
"The steady growth in mobile Internet usage in the region is laying a solid foundation for much faster adoption once subscribers start to realize the benefits of packet data services toward the end of this year," said Nick Ingelbrecht, Principal Analyst for Gartner Dataquest's Mobile Research Group.