Mobile communications in the Asia-Pacific region - statistics & facts
The beginning of mobile communications can be traced back to the mid-century when the first calls were made from car radiotelephones. However, the history of cellular communications starts when Tokyo-based Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) deployed the first analog cellular systems, now retrospectively called 1G, in 1979. Since then, four more generations of cellular technology have been launched, and the mobile communication industry developed into the biggest telecommunications industry in Asia, exceeding fixed-line communications services in revenue. Within the industry, mobile communications have started to heavily rely on mobile data services. Correspondingly, telecommunication corporations are investing in technology to offer mobile data with faster speed and lower latency.
Since its launch, 4G has become the most used cellular network technology in the Asia-Pacific region since 2018. The usage of 4G was forecast to account for just over half of all mobile subscriptions in the region by 2030. In 2019, China and Australia pioneered the 5G launch, and now the fifth generation technology is available in an increasing number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. As of 2022, 5G accounted for a connection share of just four percent across APAC, but was forecast to account for around 40 percent by 2023, with older generations 3G and 2G becoming increasingly obsolete.
Cellular technology
The mobile connection landscape in the Asia-Pacific region varies along the spectrum of mature to emerging markets. As expected, mature markets have higher mobile subscription and mobile internet penetration rates. Moreover, post-paid mobile subscriptions are prevalent in more mature markets of the region.Since its launch, 4G has become the most used cellular network technology in the Asia-Pacific region since 2018. The usage of 4G was forecast to account for just over half of all mobile subscriptions in the region by 2030. In 2019, China and Australia pioneered the 5G launch, and now the fifth generation technology is available in an increasing number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. As of 2022, 5G accounted for a connection share of just four percent across APAC, but was forecast to account for around 40 percent by 2023, with older generations 3G and 2G becoming increasingly obsolete.
