Despite the dominance of smartphones, pagers remain a critical communication tool in specific sectors, notably healthcare and emergency services. Their durability and long battery life make them indispensable, especially in the UK’s NHS and various emergency services.
The Continued Relevance of Pagers Pagers, once popular in the 1990s, have seen their usage decline with the rise of mobile phones. However, they are still widely used in fields where reliability and long battery life are crucial. In the UK, for instance, pagers are integral to the National Health Service (NHS), where they are employed by doctors and nurses for efficient, one-way communication.
A senior surgeon from a major UK hospital highlighted that pagers are used to convey important messages without requiring immediate responses. This makes them particularly useful for directing medical staff regarding locations, timings, and instructions.
Recent Headlines and Security Concerns Pagers recently made news when thousands of devices used by Hezbollah members were detonated in Lebanon, resulting in significant casualties. The explosions, reportedly caused by explosives planted by Israel's Mossad, resulted in at least nine deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries.
In 2019, the NHS utilized around 130,000 pagers, accounting for over 10% of the world's total pagers. Although recent figures are not available, the utility of pagers in emergency situations remains significant. Many pagers are capable of emitting a siren and broadcasting voice messages, a feature not available on standard mobile phones.
Usage Beyond Healthcare Apart from healthcare, pagers are used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to alert its crews. Despite the advent of modern technologies, pagers continue to serve crucial roles due to their reliability.
The Evolution of Communication Devices Historically, pagers were preferred by criminals due to their difficulty in tracking. However, with advancements in technology, particularly with the rise of burner phones, their use among criminals has declined. Former FBI agent Ken Gray noted that criminals have largely shifted to mobile phones and burner phones, which are easier to dispose of and replace.
Market Trends and Future Outlook The global pager market, valued at $1.6 billion in 2023, remains a small fraction compared to the smartphone market. However, the demand for pagers is growing, driven by the expanding patient population and the need for reliable communication in healthcare. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 5.9% from 2023 to 2030, with North America and Europe being the largest markets, generating $528 million and $496 million in revenue, respectively.
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