The fixed-line telecom service market rebounded in the second half in Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, following a tough start last year, boosted by growth in China and India, said IDC Corp, a US information technology consulting firm yesterday.

　　Idc said the fixed-line telecom revenue in the region increased from US$34.4 billion in the first half to US$37.3 billion in the second half of last year.

　　"The strong growth in the region was driven by the tremendous success of wireless local loop technology," said IDC.

　　"In China, the booming 'Little Smart' and broadband Internet access business has helped to increase the country's fixed-line revenue."

　　Wll, known as "Little Smart" in China, is a cordless phone technology based on fixed-line networks that works in a limited area.

　　China's fixed-line revenue grew 8.8 percent to hit US$15.4 billion in the second half of 2003 from the previous period.

　　China telecom Corp, the country's biggest fixed line operator, said that by the end of 2003, it had registered 24.5 million "Little Smart" subscribers, a whopping 123 percent rise from the previous year.

　　At the national level, the "Little Smart" population reached 36 million subscribers, jumping 173 percent year-on-year. Analysts said the number will hit 50 million this year.

　　On the other hand, revenue in India's WLL market rose from almost zero to US$494.4 million in 2003. It is likely the WLL services users in India will be able to convert to a fully mobile communications service in 2004, said IDC.

　　Other markets did not boast impressive growth, but showed a real turnaround from the negative growth seen in the first half of the year because of the SARS epidemic and economic uncertainties.