ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Telecom World 2006 started Monday in Hong Kong. According to the organizer of ITU, Asia-Pacific Region's telecommunication is developing rapidly in recent years.

Following are the facts and figures of the development of Asia- Pacific Region's telecommunication in recent years.

-- During the period of 2000-2003, fixed-line subscribers grew by 13 percent per year in the region, reaching 480 million, and the average fixed-line density is expected to catch up with Europe and the America in eight to 10 years.

-- Leader in mobile data applications, largely dominated by Japan and South Korea.

-- Mobile online gaming market was worth 920 million U.S. dollars in 2003, of which Japan and South Korea being the two largest markets.

-- At the end of 2003, nearly 5 million 3G customers in the region, concentrating heavily in Japan and South Korea.

-- Number of broadband subscribers jumped close to 90 percent per year from 2000-2003, and reached over 50 million in the 2nd quarter of 2004.

-- Four of the top ten broadband economies in the world from the Asia-Pacific. They are South Korea, Japan and China's Hong Kong and Taiwan.

-- Number of internet users experienced 38 percent growth per year during 2000-2003, amounted to 255 million users at the end of 2003, surpassing North America (227 million users) and Europe (191 million users).

-- High internet penetration levels of around 50 percent in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.