A first ATM network in the eastern part of Europe is also about to appear. The stability and effectiveness of management systems still leave something to be desired, so it is currently suggested the trial will have to run into 1996, to compensate for delays and to allow sufficient time to collect further data. This is seen to be due to a lack of innovative capacity in European companies, and a lack of integration in the European market comparable to that of the United States. Their solution is a coordinated approach by European industry, an increase in the pace of telecom liberalisation and a reduction in tariffs. Current forecasts suggest a figure of 8-10m will be reached by the end of the year.
Growth is still strongest in Europe, particularly in the important German market.
However even here in Belgium the service has grown from 5,000 subscribers at launch in January 1994 to 70,000 one year later. In some countries, the first signs of erosion of the analogue user base is beginning to appear. New growth regions appear to be the Arab states and the Pacific Rim. Digital-AMPS will not have this advantage. CDMA-based systems have theoretically greater capacity and therefore may be cheaper in the long run, but equipment is not yet commercially available.