Global telecoms growth seen at 9,1%

NEW YORK – Growth in the global telecommunications market will slow in the next four years as the traditional telephone market stagnates, while Internet and wireless services grow, an industry group said on Thursday.

The global telecoms market will grow 9,1 per cent on a compound annual basis to become a US$4,3 trillion industry in 2010, after rising as much as 11,2 per cent to US$3 trillion last year, a report from the Telecommunications Industry Association of equipment suppliers found. Wired telephone line revenue is set to grow less than half a percent a year to US$703 billion from US$693 billion in 2006, as growth in regions such as Asia, Africa and Latin America barely offset declines in telephone lines in the United States and Europe.At the other end of the spectrum, broadband Internet access service revenue is set to grow 16,5 per cent annually to US$208 billion in 2010 from US$113 billion in 2006, according to the report.In the same time frame wireless service revenue is expected to grow 11,7 per cent a year to US$1,07 trillion in 2010 from US$689 billion in 2006 on the same basis, the TIA said.Global wireless service revenue is expected to surpass wired services in 2007, the TIA said.The global market for telecoms gear, including everything from phones to big service provider network gear, is expected to grow 7,6 per cent a year to US$654 billion in 2010 from US$488 billion in 2006, when the growth rate was 10,2 per cent.The United States telecoms industry, which represented a $923 billion market in 2006, is set to grow at a slower 7,6 per cent annual rate in the same period, down from its 9,3 per cent growth in 2006, according to the report.The European telecoms market, which was the biggest in 2006 with US$1 trillion in revenue, is expected to grow seven per cent a year in the same period, while the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing region, with 12,5 per cent annual growth.The Middle East and Africa and Latin America are expected to be next in line with a growth rate of 12,2 per cent a year.Nampa-ReutersWired telephone line revenue is set to grow less than half a percent a year to US$703 billion from US$693 billion in 2006, as growth in regions such as Asia, Africa and Latin America barely offset declines in telephone lines in the United States and Europe.At the other end of the spectrum, broadband Internet access service revenue is set to grow 16,5 per cent annually to US$208 billion in 2010 from US$113 billion in 2006, according to the report.In the same time frame wireless service revenue is expected to grow 11,7 per cent a year to US$1,07 trillion in 2010 from US$689 billion in 2006 on the same basis, the TIA said.Global wireless service revenue is expected to surpass wired services in 2007, the TIA said.The global market for telecoms gear, including everything from phones to big service provider network gear, is expected to grow 7,6 per cent a year to US$654 billion in 2010 from US$488 billion in 2006, when the growth rate was 10,2 per cent.The United States telecoms industry, which represented a $923 billion market in 2006, is set to grow at a slower 7,6 per cent annual rate in the same period, down from its 9,3 per cent growth in 2006, according to the report.The European telecoms market, which was the biggest in 2006 with US$1 trillion in revenue, is expected to grow seven per cent a year in the same period, while the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing region, with 12,5 per cent annual growth.The Middle East and Africa and Latin America are expected to be next in line with a growth rate of 12,2 per cent a year.Nampa-Reuters