The Resurgence of Pagers in Critical Communication
As mobile phones dominate global communication, pagers, once a ubiquitous tool, have largely faded into obscurity since their peak in the 1990s. However, these small electronic devices remain crucial in specific sectors, particularly healthcare and emergency services. Their durability, long battery life, and ability to communicate efficiently without requiring immediate responses have kept them relevant. A senior surgeon in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) emphasized that pagers are the most effective way to relay information to large groups, stating, "They are used to tell people where to go, when, and why."
Pagers recently made headlines when thousands of devices used by Hezbollah members were detonated simultaneously across Lebanon, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and nearly 3,000 injuries. According to sources, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was implicated in planting explosives within these devices, highlighting a dark side of technology that can be exploited for malicious purposes.
In the UK, the NHS utilized approximately 130,000 pagers in 2019, accounting for over 10% of the global pager market. These devices are particularly favored in hospital emergency departments, where they can alert entire medical teams to emergencies through sirens and voice messages—capabilities that mobile phones lack. A source from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution confirmed that pagers are also used to alert rescue crews, although they declined to provide further comments.
The Changing Landscape of Communication Technology
Despite the decline in pager usage among criminals, they remain a preferred communication tool in healthcare and emergency services. Former FBI agent Ken Gray noted that while pagers were once popular among drug dealers for their difficulty in tracking, many have transitioned to using smartphones and disposable prepaid phones for their anonymity.
The global pager market is projected to reach $1.6 billion in 2023, a small fraction compared to the smartphone market, which is estimated at around half a trillion dollars. However, demand for pagers is anticipated to grow, driven by the increasing patient population and the necessity for efficient communication within the healthcare sector. According to Cogent Market Research, the pager market is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 5.9% from 2023 to 2030, with North America and Europe leading in revenue generation at $528 million and $496 million, respectively.
