Ten years since the first network launch - China leads growth
The GSM family phenomenon continues its explosive growth according to figures released today by the GSM Association, the voice of the world’s mobile network operators.
The number of global GSM wireless customers is fast approaching the three quarter billion mark, establishing today’s GSM’s as the mobile technology of choice for one in nine people on the planet.
In parallel with the expansion of global customers - more than 167 million new customers have been added in the last twelve months - the staggering growth of SMS (Short Message Service) continues.
An astounding 75 billion
text messages were sent globally in Q1 2002, representing an increase of
more than 50 per cent on the same period of 2001.
The total forecast for 2002 is now put at 360 billion messages, up from 250 billion reached during 2002.
Scott Fox, Chairman of the GSM Association said: “This growth is simply great news for all operators especially those that have launched or are readying to launch GPRS data services today.
The potential is vast for the
existing customer base alone, but this together with the promise of new untapped markets and innovative new wireless data services, shows clearly the true scale and potential we have ahead of us.
“For example, there is substantial potential as SMS evolves toward Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS),” said Fox.
“A critical path focus for the Association’s members today. Crucially we are aiming to develop and ensure new levels of simplicity, quality, content, choice, and ubiquity that consumers have been able to enjoy with SMS.”
The GSM Association points toward several key factors behind text messaging
growth such as increasing competition in the wireless sector, more choice of
handsets & tariff options, the spread of GSM family platforms into untapped
new markets, e.g. ring tones, new business models such as premium rate SMS, wholesale
marketing and new text messaging contexts such as interactive television based messaging - as seen in Norway and Finland, for example.
In the Americas, the potential for growth of texting is immense with GSM/GPRS overlay on TDMA networks well under way. According to statistics from Cingular Wireless, this potential is already being realised. SMS usage has increased more than 450 per cent since last summer.
With SMS interconnect between operators in North America, a development that kick started markets elsewhere in the world, the signs are extremely positive.
Although Europe currently accounts for 50 per cent of the total subscriber figures - where some operators are achieving more than ten per cent of service revenues from SMS - Asia and the Americas are catching up swiftly.
The largest single market for GSM remains China with more than 160 million customers.
Even Afghanistan
Even war torn Afghanistan now has access to GSM services, with the recent
launch of the Afghan Wireless Communications Company - which has joined the GSM Association during its 47th Plenary Meeting of Members this week.
The network was launched in April 2002 by Chairman Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan’s
Interim Administration.
The AWCC GSM network will provide Afghanistan with
national and international mobile calling, voice mail, SMS text messaging and data services.
“This is a very appropriate and fitting way to conclude the first decade of GSM deployment globally” says Rob Conway, CEO of the GSM Association. “GSM has proven its value beyond all expectations as the world’s leading and most capable
wireless platform. Now, with 178 countries of the world deploying GSM family platforms we look confidently to a new era of wireless data
services and the colossal potential ahead. GSM truly is the wireless evolution,” he adds.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Magnoliacom
Newsvine
Furl
Google
Yahoo
Technorati
Comments
Post new comment