Facts and Figures

No of Countries 49
No of Operators 136
Population 3.45 Bn
Percentage of Share Base of total world population 52%
GSM Subscriber base 1 Bn
Percentage of Population covered 30 %
Percentage of Share Base of total GSM Subscribers 45%

Significance of the Asia Pacific Region

  • Growth Market of the Future with over 52% of the world population
  • Average Growth rate of subscriber additions 27 %
  • Biggest share base in GSM/3GSM Subscribers (45% to date)
  • Young population (70% below 30 years of age)
  • Apart from India (which is not a Member of GSMAP) Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia have been the next fastest growing markets in Asia- Pacific through 2006 with almost 50 million net additions in total for the three countries.
  • It is expected that the Asia Pacific region would account for approximately 40% of the next billion mobile users.
  • China leads the way in terms of total connections, with over 443 million and by the end of 2007 China will reach a 38% penetration rate