2008 Asian - Mobile Data and the Wireless Broadband Market

Publication Date	September 2008
Publisher	BuddeComm
Product Type	Report
Pages	195
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	BUD00300

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Summary

This market report provides an overview of the Mobile Data and Wireless Broadband Market segment across the various markets of Asia. Some 27 Asian countries are covered in the report. It is noted that the amount of information offered is obviously dependent on the relative size of the market in each of the respective countries. The coverage in the report also results in some segment overlap as we see increased convergence in the mobile data and wireless broadband markets.

Mobile data services in Asia

With some 1.4 billion Asians using mobile phones by March 2008, the region's mobile markets offer huge potential for mobile data services.

The growth of wireless Internet in Asia is being driven by competition in the market place and by the advent of 3G and 3.5G services. Market competition has been driving handset prices and airtime tariffs downward, thus opening up mobile services to wider adoption. Adoption of wireless Internet has started to rise with the overall increase in mobile penetration and as networks are progressively upgraded to next generation platforms.

While 3G licensing and the ongoing launch of 3G services in Asia has certainly been promoting growth of wireless data services, 3G has also been providing opportunities for both wireless access and content providers in domestic markets. In South Asia, in particular, more people own a mobile phone than a PC, giving the delivery of mobile data services huge potential there.

Mobile data is not a new phenomenon in Asia. Regional public networks based on Mobitex technology were established in Singapore, Indonesia and South Korea. Another form of mobile data, the DataTAC network, was made available in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, with network trials in South Korea, Japan and China. The DataTAC networks established in Asia were more extensive than the corresponding networks in either Europe or the US.

An example of widespread adoption of a particular mobile data service has been the SMS capability of GSM and other digital cellular technologies. SMS, which allows the sending and receiving of basic text messages, became very popular throughout Asia, with remarkable growth being experienced in the Philippines and Malaysia, as well as in China.

The business plans of the majority of mobile operators have been built on the assumption that the key to further revenue growth lies in the ability to offer more value-added services and, in particular, access to the Internet. A number of technologies are competing for the region's mobile Internet market. In Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and a number of other countries, in an effort to chase this market, offerings based on the WAP standard were tried. Apart from South Korea, however, WAP failed to claim any significant share of the market. In Japan, by contrast, NTT DoCoMo launched its i-Mode service and its two rivals -SoftBank and KDDI - launched their own versions of i-Mode with dramatic success, with almost 50% of Internet users in Japan logging on from a mobile using one of these platforms. Another system that has supported mobile data, the GPRS, grew out of GSM. Labelled as a 2.5G technology, it has been adopted in a significant number of Asian markets.

The widespread adoption of HSDPA, a new generation (3.5G) mobile telephone protocol, is also noted throughout Asia. It is an evolution of the WCDMA 3G standard, designed to increase the available data rate by a factor of 5 or more. In effect, it extends the capabilities of WCDMA in the same way that EV-DO extended CDMA2000, allowing higher data capacity (up to 14.4Mb/s). SK Telecom launched a commercial HSDPA network in 25 major cities in South Korea in May 2006, offering customers what it claimed was the world's first commercial HSDPA-enabled mobile handset, the Samsung SCH-W200. This was followed SmarTone-Vodafone launching a system in Hong Kong in June 2006, providing a data speed of 1.8Mb/s. Others have quickly followed.

Wireless broadband in Asia

After a somewhat tentative start, wireless broadband access in its various forms is starting to take hold in Asia. This has seen a flurry of activity as operators rush to acquire the necessary frequency licences. The sector had experienced problems earlier on involving unreliable equipment and network design faults. These have become things of the past. The challenge still facing the industry, however, is to establish viable business models that allow wireless to compete with the more established service offerings - DSL and cable modem platforms in the case of fixed wireless broadband and next generation mobile telephony platforms in the case of mobile wireless broadband. Wireless broadband systems are expected to eventually become a key feature of the broadband access landscape across Asia. Apart from WiFi and WiMAX platforms, wireless technologies include LMDS and MMDS.

For some years now, despite high equipment prices and security issues inhibiting adoption, wireless broadband services have been appearing in a piecemeal fashion across the region, notably in airport lounges, transport hubs and hotels, particularly offering mobile travellers immediate broadband connectivity.

As with other high technology services, it is the developed economies that have been leading the way in this segment of the telecom market in Asia. At the same time, however, wireless broadband technologies are certain to prove increasingly popular in the developing markets as they offer a powerful means of by-passing the incumbent's infrastructure, especially the 'last mile' and also accessing customers where the incumbent's infrastructure finds it difficult. These possibilities will become even more attractive as the cost of equipment falls with more roll-outs occurring and the market demand volume rising. This pattern has already started to emerge.

While there has been some activity in the providing of WiMAX networks, the real test will be the advent of mobile WiMAX. The initial roll-out of mobile WiMAX in Asia has begun but it has been a cautious start. The technology continues to be strongly supported at this stage of its development. The big question is whether it will become a mass market platform or simply satisfy a niche market need.

It should be noted that gathering statistics for broadband subscribers in Asia has become difficult with the advent of wireless services and hotspots. One phenomenon that makes it difficult is the practice of service 'bundling' by operators. Korea Telecom, for example, had a large number of WiFi subscribers, approximately two-thirds of which were 'bundled' as subscribers on the operator's DSL service.

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

Content

1. Afghanistan
- 1.1 Mobile data
- 1.2 Wireless broadband
  - 1.2.1 Internet cafes
2. Armenia
- 2.1 Mobile data
- 2.2 Wireless broadband
  - 2.2.1 Wireless Internet
  - 2.2.2 ArmincGlobal Telecommunications
3. Bangladesh
- 3.1 Mobile data
  - 3.1.1 Overview
  - 3.1.2 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 3.1.3 Mobile portal service
  - 3.1.4 Wireless Internet
- 3.2 Wireless broadband
  - 3.2.1 AlwaysOn
  - 3.2.2 WiMAX
4. Bhutan
- 4.1 Mobile data
- 4.2 Wireless broadband
  - 4.2.1 Samden Tech
5. Cambodia
- 5.1 Mobile data
  - 5.1.1 Cambodia GSM (MobiTel)
- 5.2 Wireless broadband
  - 5.2.1 MediaRings acquisition of AngkorNet
  - 5.2.2 WiMAX
6. China
- 6.1 Mobile data
  - 6.1.1 Market overview
  - 6.1.2 Mobile data statistics
  - 6.1.3 Regulatory issues
  - 6.1.4 Satellite Terrestrial Interactive Multi-service Infrastructure (STiMi) platform
  - 6.1.5 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 6.1.6 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 6.1.7 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 6.1.8 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 6.1.9 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 6.1.10 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  - 6.1.11 Broadband wireless data services
  - 6.1.12 BlackBerry
  - 6.1.13 Mobile TV
- 6.2 Mobile content and applications
  - 6.2.1 Market overview
  - 6.2.2 A surge in new applications development
  - 6.2.3 Global positioning systems (GPS)
  - 6.2.4 M-commerce
  - 6.2.5 Mobile Video-on-Demand (VoD)
  - 6.2.6 Mobile gaming
  - 6.2.7 Instant Message (IM) search services
  - 6.2.8 Ringtones
  - 6.2.9 Mobile music
  - 6.2.10 Push email
- 6.3 Wireless broadband
  - 6.3.1 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs)
  - 6.3.2 WiFi
  - 6.3.3 World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)
  - 6.3.4 Analysis WiMAX still not high on the agenda in China April 2007
  - 6.3.5 Analysis WiMAX September 2007
  - 6.3.6 WLAN Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI)
  - 6.3.7 Wireless Local Loop (WLL)
  - 6.3.8 Broadband Fixed Wireless Access (BFWA)/Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS)
  - 6.3.9 Broadband via satellite
7. Georgia
- 7.1 Wireless broadband
  - 7.1.1 WiMAX
8. Hong Kong
- 8.1 Mobile data
  - 8.1.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 8.1.2 Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
  - 8.1.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 8.1.4 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 8.1.5 Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC)
  - 8.1.6 High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD)
  - 8.1.7 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  - 8.1.8 High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)
  - 8.1.9 Mobile TV
  - 8.1.10 Wireless data
- 8.2 Mobile content and applications
- 8.3 Wireless broadband
  - 8.3.1 Wireless Internet
  - 8.3.2 SmarTone Broadband Services
9. India
- 9.1 Mobile data
  - 9.1.1 Market overview
  - 9.1.2 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 9.1.3 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 9.1.4 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 9.1.5 Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC)
  - 9.1.6 Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW)
  - 9.1.7 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  - 9.1.8 Mobile entertainment
  - 9.1.9 i-mode
  - 9.1.10 BlackBerry
  - 9.1.11 Mobile TV
- 9.2 Mobile content and applications
  - 9.2.1 Gaming
- 9.3 Wireless broadband
  - 9.3.1 WiMAX
  - 9.3.2 Satellite
10. Indonesia
- 10.1 Mobile data
  - 10.1.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 10.1.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 10.1.3 Mobile TV
  - 10.1.4 Other services
- 10.2 Wireless broadband
  - 10.2.1 World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)
  - 10.2.2 Wireless LANs (WLAN)
  - 10.2.3 Internet via satellite
11. Japan
- 11.1 Mobile data
  - 11.1.1 Analysis mobile data market
  - 11.1.2 Mobile Internet
  - 11.1.3 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 11.1.4 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 11.1.5 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 11.1.6 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 11.1.7 BlackBerry
- 11.2 Mobile content and applications
  - 11.2.1 Content for mobile market
  - 11.2.2 Global Positioning System (GPS)
  - 11.2.3 M-commerce/m-cash
  - 11.2.4 Mobile gaming
  - 11.2.5 Mobile conferencing
  - 11.2.6 Mobile videoconferencing / mobile vide
  - 11.2.7 Mobile TV and radi
  - 11.2.8 Mobile ringtone and music downloads
  - 11.2.9 QR code readers
  - 11.2.10 Mobile books
  - 11.2.11 Mobile Applications
- 11.3 Wireless broadband
  - 11.3.1 Wireless LAN (WLAN)
  - 11.3.2 Major WLAN providers
  - 11.3.3 WiMAX
  - 11.3.4 Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN)
  - 11.3.5 Ultra Wideband (UWB)
  - 11.3.6 Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS)
  - 11.3.7 Broadband Internet via satellite
12. Kazakhstan
- 12.1 Mobile data
  - 12.1.1 GSM-Kazakhstan (KCell)
  - 12.1.2 Kar-Tel (K-Mobile)
13. Laos
- 13.1 Wireless broadband
  - 13.1.1 Wireless broadband statistics
14. Malaysia
- 14.1 Mobile data
  - 14.1.1 Short Message Services (SMS)
  - 14.1.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 14.1.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 14.1.4 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 14.1.5 InterReach Unison
  - 14.1.6 Mobile TV/Videon Demand (VoD)
- 14.2 Mobile content and applications
  - 14.2.1 Gaming
  - 14.2.2 M-commerce (micropayments)
  - 14.2.3 Blogging
- 14.3 Wireless broadband
  - 14.3.1 Overview
  - 14.3.2 WiMAX
  - 14.3.3 Time dotCom
  - 14.3.4 NasionCom
  - 14.3.5 Maxis Net
  - 14.3.6 iZZinet
  - 14.3.7 Internet via satellite
15. Mongolia
- 15.1 Wireless broadband
16. Myanmar
- 16.1 Mobile data
  - 16.1.1 Mobile broadcasting
- 16.2 Wireless broadband
  - 16.2.1 WiMAX
17. Nepal
- 17.1 Mobile data
  - 17.1.1 Nepal Telecom
- 17.2 Wireless broadband
  - 17.2.1 WiFi network for remote villages
18. Pakistan
- 18.1 Mobile data
  - 18.1.1 SMS
  - 18.1.2 MMS
  - 18.1.3 Mobile TV
- 18.2 Wireless broadband
  - 18.2.1 WiMAX
  - 18.2.2 Internet via satellite
19. Philippines
- 19.1 Mobile data
  - 19.1.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 19.1.2 Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
  - 19.1.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 19.1.4 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 19.1.5 Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  - 19.1.6 Mobile TV
- 19.2 Mobile content and applications
  - 19.2.1 Mobile tracking
  - 19.2.2 M-commerce
- 19.3 Wireless broadband
  - 19.3.1 Market overview
  - 19.3.2 Broadband Philippines
  - 19.3.3 Next Mobile
  - 19.3.4 Meridian
  - 19.3.5 Pacific Internet (PacNet)
  - 19.3.6 BellTel
  - 19.3.7 Globe Telecom
  - 19.3.8 WiFi
  - 19.3.9 WiMAX
  - 19.3.10 BlackBerry
  - 19.3.11 Internet via satellite
20. Singapore
- 20.1 Mobile data
  - 20.1.1 Short Messaging Service (SMS)
  - 20.1.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 20.1.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 20.1.4 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 20.1.5 i-mode
  - 20.1.6 Other developments
  - 20.1.7 M1
  - 20.1.8 StarHub
  - 20.1.9 Mobile TV
- 20.2 Mobile content and applications
  - 20.2.1 Location-based services
- 20.3 Wireless broadband
  - 20.3.1 Overview
  - 20.3.2 Allocation of wireless broadband spectrum
  - 20.3.3 Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS)
  - 20.3.4 WiFi
  - 20.3.5 The Wireless@SG initiative
  - 20.3.6 Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
  - 20.3.7 Internet via satellite
21. South Korea
- 21.1 Mobile data
  - 21.1.1 Market overview
  - 21.1.2 Mobile Internet
  - 21.1.3 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 21.1.4 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 21.1.5 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 21.1.6 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 21.1.7 Mobile TV broadcasting/Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB)
  - 21.1.8 Mobile Video-on-Demand (mobile VoD)
- 21.2 Mobile content and applications
  - 21.2.1 Overview
  - 21.2.2 Videcalls
  - 21.2.3 Position location system/Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
  - 21.2.4 Automobile telematics
  - 21.2.5 M-commerce/m-payment
  - 21.2.6 Mobile banking (m-banking)
  - 21.2.7 M-government
  - 21.2.8 M-magazines
  - 21.2.9 M-Big Macs
  - 21.2.10 M-movies
  - 21.2.11 Remote home monitoring
  - 21.2.12 Multi-lingual service
- 21.3 Wireless broadband
  - 21.3.1 Overview
  - 21.3.2 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)/Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)
  - 21.3.3 Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (WIPI)
  - 21.3.4 Broadband Wireless Local Loop (B-WLL)
  - 21.3.5 Wireless Broadband (WiBro)
  - 21.3.6 WiMAX
  - 21.3.7 Broadband via satellite
  - 21.3.8 Ultra Wideband (UWB) Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)
  - 21.3.9 HanarTelecom/HanaNet
22. Sri Lanka
- 22.1 Mobile data
  - 22.1.1 Dialog Telekom (MTN)
- 22.2 Wireless broadband
  - 22.2.1 WiMAX
23. Taiwan
- 23.1 Mobile data
  - 23.1.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 23.1.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 23.1.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 23.1.4 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 23.1.5 Mobile Internet
  - 23.1.6 Videcalls
  - 23.1.7 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 23.1.8 WiMAX
- 23.2 Wireless broadband
  - 23.2.1 WiMAX
  - 23.2.2 M-Taiwan project
24. Tajikistan
- 24.1 Wireless broadband
  - 24.1.1 WiMAX
25. Thailand
- 25.1 Mobile data
  - 25.1.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 25.1.2 Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
  - 25.1.3 Smart phones
  - 25.1.4 Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC)
  - 25.1.5 Global Positioning System (GPS) service
- 25.2 Mobile content and applications
- 25.3 Wireless broadband
  - 25.3.1 Overview
  - 25.3.2 WiMAX
  - 25.3.3 Internet via satellite
26. Uzbekistan
- 26.1 Wireless broadband
  - 26.1.1 WiMAX
27. Vietnam
- 27.1 Mobile data
  - 27.1.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 27.1.2 Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
  - 27.1.3 Instant Messaging (IM)
  - 27.1.4 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 27.1.5 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 27.1.6 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
- 27.2 Mobile content and applications
- 27.3 Wireless broadband
  - 27.3.1 Satellite Internet
28. Glossary of Abbreviations