Asia: One Billion Cell Phone Subscribers

October 23, 2006 – 12:35 am

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I always feel that the future of cell phone is in Asia not in America or Europe. Asian countries have the fastest growth in terms of cell phone subscribers. In fact, in the last 3 years the number of cell phone subscribers in Asia has almost doubled and by the end of this year this number is going to surpass 1 billion. Well, there is still a huge room for growth. In fact, only 30% people have cell phone in Asia right now. Even if we can have just another 30% people on board, then it will become 2 billion subscribers.

Digi Times reported:

The number of mobile subscriptions in Asia-Pacific has doubled in just three years and GSM now accounts for nearly 80% of the region’s total subscriptions, according to research firm Informa Telecoms & Media. The company forecasts that Asia-Pacific will account for 45% of global subscription growth by the end of this year and will rise to well over 50% by 2007.

China, India and Pakistan- these three countries have the main contribution behind the growth in Asia. In the next level we have countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam. These 6 countries added 137 million new subscribers in the first 9 months of 2006. There are still a huge room for growth in countries like Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan.

It is true that most subscribers in Asia are not so well off like their counterparts in America and Europe. However, this is going to change with the continuous high economic growth in the Asian countries like China and India.

Cell phone companies (handset manufacturers, service providers and content providers) should focus more on Asia from now. There is still a lot of room here.

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