The market for public address systems - Italy

1.1 Definition and scope of study

Public address systems involve the service of equipping a place with installations and equipment designed to capture, amplify, and diffuse sounds by means of electro-acoustic systems. The fields of application of public address systems are varied. They are mainly sound systems for live shows, concerts, or theatres, or diffusion of background music and announcements (in public places such as train station halls or supermarkets). The public address system market can be segmented by types (portable systems and fixed systems), application (indoor and outdoor spaces), and geographical outlook.

The global public address system market was valued at $873.5 million in 2019, and it is expected to reach a value of $942.2 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 1.9% during the period 2020-2025.

The sound system of a place mobilizes a multitude of actors, from the manufacture of sound equipment, until they are actually installed in the spaces concerned. Therefore, the related sector employs a high number of specialists for the realization of such systems. Currently, the public address system market in North America holds the largest market share of the global market, but Asian countries are growing rapidly, as the increase in the population is raising the need for installation of public address systems in many different places.

However, despite the relatively small dimension of the Italian market, it counts on the presence of some specialized enterprises that are well-known even in other countries. For instance, Paso Spa is globally recognized for its leadership in the production of public address and conference systems. Founded by some previous employees of Geloso Spa, they basically converted the business of the mentioned company after the death of the founder from the production of radio and television devices to that of public address systems. Therefore, it is easy to understand the high expertise that the company have gained through the years within the communication industry.