DUBLIN, UK: Research and Markets has announced the release of "2008 Asia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Overview" report. This report provides an overview of the trends and developments in the telecommunications markets in the Asian region.

India continues to be one of the fastest growing major telecom markets in the world. Sweeping reforms introduced by successive Indian governments over the last decade have dramatically changed the nature of telecommunications in the country. The mobile sector has grown from around 10 million subscribers in 2002 to 150 million by the start of 2007. While GSM technology still dominates the mobile market, CDMA has quickly grabbed almost 30 percent share. The mobile industry should continue to boom. Fixed-line services grew strongly for a while but have been experiencing zero and negative growth of late. This report presents the key measures and takes a general look at the market direction.

A generally strong run of economic growth throughout the Asian region in 2007 and into 2008 was witnessed. This was despite some anxiety resulting from the uncertainty surrounding oil prices and the impact of this on the global economy.

On a positive note, the giant growth engine that is China continued to provide a sustained lift to the economies of its neighbours. However, it was recognised that if China’s economy started to show signs of stalling, the impact would certainly be felt right across Asia.

In the second half of 2008, Asia was bracing itself for the snowball effect of the global credit crisis that started in the US and spread to Europe. Although the future remained uncertain, looking back there was clear evidence that the region’s telecommunications sector had clearly been benefiting from a period of healthy economic growth.

Highlights in the telecoms sector coming into 2008 include:

Asia’s mobile markets continued to grow strongly; having passed the one billion subscriber milestone in late 2006, the market was expanding at an annual rate of almost 30 percent and had reached 1.5 billion by mid-2008.

3G mobile services continued to be rolled out in the major markets, with the developed markets taking a strong lead.