Much of the growth still concentrates on Asia Pacific which has expanded by 35% from 20,119 2Q04 to 27,171 2Q05. This is despite the maturing of the Asia Pacific market, which has seen its share of the global market decline by 39% in 2Q04 to only 32% in 2Q05.

Over the same period growth in other markets has increased, Western Europe takes the lead seeing its market share increase from 40% to 42%. North America also expands from 21% to 26%.

The fastest growing public Wi-Fi operator in Asia Pacific is Telstra which has 711 hotspots at the end of 2Q05, a growth of 110% from 339 at end 1Q05. Telstra-s expansion accounts for Australia becoming the fastest growing market in the region 2Q05, with 1,036 hotspots at the end of the quarter.

At the opposite end of the scale is Singapore which had 470 hotspots at the end 2Q05 down 1% from 475 at the end 1Q05, this decline follows on from 1Q05 when there were 508 hotspots as a result of contraction by top operator Singtel.

The largest operator in the region remains Korea Telecom with 13,412 hotspots at the end of 2Q05, equivalent to 49% of the region-s total coverage and almost 16% of the total global market, making them the largest public Wi-Fi operator in the world.

The second largest operator in the region remains Japan, whose top 4 operators account for almost 6,000 hotspots at the end Q205.

© "Informa Telecoms & Media"