The Asia-Pacific Mobile Communications Symposium 2001 was opened Thursday to explore business opportunities in developing and operating the mobile network and services.
Under the theme "Asia Pacific: the Mobile Communications Powerhouse of the New Millennium", the two-day symposium will discuss topics covering the regulatory framework, technology and market trends, wireless applications and the latest innovative products.
Addressing the symposium today, Organizing Committee Chairman Dr. W C Keung, said the mobile communications industry is among the fastest growing sectors in the world economy.
He said, "the number of mobile users in the Asia Pacific now accounts for over 46 percent of total world users, with Hong Kong alone boasting 5.5 million subscribers."
"With new generation devices such as GPRS and Bluetooth-enabled phones becoming available, business opportunities are set to increase," he said, "the annual advertising, commerce and subscription revenue in the region is projected to reach 5 billion U.S. dollars by 2003, or 66 percent of the world total."
The symposium is co-organized by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers' Information Technology Division, the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the China Institute of Communications.
(People's Daily 09/14/2001)
