“Long live Global Wireless newspaper.” That’s what one of our readers wrote to me in a letter recently (see facing page), and I liked it so much I decided to borrow his words. So at risk of sounding a bit repetitive, I’ll echo that sentiment: “Long live Global Wireless!”
For you see, these are my parting words as this is my last issue as editor. GW will enter its third year of publication-in the auspicious year of 2000, no less-with Sandra Wendelken at the helm. Ms. Wendelken, formerly editor of Radio Resource International, will guide Global Wireless into the next Millennium-where wireless communications will dominate and send wireline networks into the history books.
I must admit, it’s a bit hard for me to let go because I poured my heart into creating and launching GW. It’s like my child, in a way. And in the process of “raising” this child, I’ve formed lasting relationships with our correspondents around the world, whom I consider the foundation and soul of what GW has become. Most especially, I’ve enjoyed serving you, our readers.
But there’s a time for everything …
… Just like in 1997 when we knew it was time for a truly international wireless publication-one that covers all mobile standards and geographic regions. We could see it coming: international consolidation of the wireless industry. Carriers would need to work with each other across borders, and networks would need to talk to each other. More international dialog was needed. Little did we know when we launched the first issue of Global Wireless in January 1998 how fast that consolidation would happen and how quickly the industry would change:
The global cellular/PCS subscriber base has more than doubled from 205 million at year-end 1997 to an estimated 425 million today, according to Dataquest.
As the most highly coveted wireless investment market, China by itself is now seeing about 1 million new cellular subscribers per month.
The ITU is reporting that last year twice as many mobile subscribers were added compared with fixed-telephony subscribers worldwide and that wireless will dominate fixed telephony in just five years.
Trunking operators are being seen in a new light. In the United States, digital trunking operator Nextel has succeeded at marketing itself as a cellular provider to business users while still being regulated as a trunked radio operator. Elsewhere, more and more countries are now issuing trunked-radio spectrum.
The mobile data market? Well, let’s just say that it was a side topic when Global Wireless launched two years ago. Now we could fill endless pages with data news. Europe has emerged as the true leader in moving the industry forward. WAP is the new darling of the wireless industry.
The paging market, on the other hand, is in trouble worldwide-having seen lower growth and sliding penetration rates over the past two years.
In theatrical news, the standardization process for 3G has moved from a mud-slinging international battle to relative peace and harmony. (Or shall I say “harmonization?”) Who would have thought two years ago that Ericsson and Qualcomm would ever play “Let’s make a deal?”
And finally, consolidation is now moving at 3G speeds as carriers go after (sometimes desperately, it seems) a global footprint. Isolated to specific markets at the beginning of 1998, consolidation is becoming a worldwide trend. (See pages 2-3 for the latest.)
Our industry is on a growth pattern that is nothing less than phenomenal. To monitor the news every day and see these changes has been mind-boggling for me.
I only have one fear … and as I end my time at Global Wireless, I leave you with more parting words: Is there such a thing as moving too fast, and what are the consequences for customers of doing so? I hope there are people out there besides me who are worrying about this. Keep talking to each other.
Meanwhile, kudos to a magnificent industry!
