WASHINGTON-The Asia-Pacific region represents the largest trunked radio market in the world, according to information gathered by the International Mobile Telecommunications Association for its report on the industry, “Global Digest for Commercial Trunked Radio Systems.”
The region had more than 3.3 million units in service at the end of 1997. About 2.2 million of those subscribers were in China, where there are more than 150 systems operating-mostly on the 350 MHz band, using various types of equipment, said IMTA.
Japan, the second-largest market after China, has two dominant players in the market and requires all operators to be nonprofit entities. IMTA said the two companies have reported declining subscriber numbers since 1996, and a noticeable drop in analog subscribers.
Throughout the rest of Asia, the market shows signs of growth. The two countries where growth most likely will occur are India and South Korea because the industry is relatively new there, IMTA predicted.
Operators in Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand also predict high growth levels as the markets mature.
