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Mobile Wireless Operators Rapidly Building Next-Gen Networks

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 18:00 CST

Mobile operators will create their next generation networks using a range of wireless broadband and cellular technologies, including W-CDMA, WiFi, and WiMAX, says a new report by Infonetics Research.

And they're moving fast. According to the study (Service Provider Plans for Next Gen Mobile and Wireless Broadband), the 18 North American, European, and Asia Pacific carriers interviewed spent an average of $2.9 billion in 2005 on next gen mobile and wireless broadband equipment, and will spend $4.1 billion in 2007, a 41% increase.

Mobile users want to replicate their wireline broadband experience on the go, driving 3G uptake. This will push carriers to spend a healthy proportion of their next gen mobile and wireless broadband capex on upgrading from 2.5G to 3G base station systems.

"The range of available applications accessible via a mobile handset is going to rapidly expand over the coming years," said Richard Webb, directing analyst at Infonetics Research. "For example, most of our respondents offer mobile/wireless VPN services by 2007, interactive gaming is offered by 83% of respondents by 2007, and caller ID, unified and multimedia messaging, and video download/playback all grow to 72% by next year. Not surprisingly, IP-based multimedia and video services are expected to be the bedrock of future revenue growth."

Sample Findings

 --  The top 3 drivers for adopting next gen mobile or wireless broadband     are: bundling with other services, reducing opex, and offering new     applications --  The top 2 top drivers for deploying IMS and next gen voice equipment     are: availability of new applications and services, and lower operational     costs --  22% of respondents have deployed the fixed WiMAX standard (802.16d),     growing to 50% by 2007 --  6% of respondents offer bundled VoIP with WiFi now, growing to 44% by     2007 --  3G and WiMAX show the most dramatic growth by 2007 among wireless     backhaul solutions, possibly indicating a trend away from fixed-line     solutions --  The number of 3G base stations deployed by respondents nearly triples     between 2006 and 2007, driven by operators' intent to offer video and     mobile IPTV services --  Respondents say their key 3G infrastructure design requirements     include high quality video capabilities, fast network reactivity, high     session rate, and high capacity --  Evolution from 3G to 4G will be driven by services that offer better     quality, greater bandwidth, more sophistication, and improved     personalization      

The study takes an in-depth look at service providers planning to offer next-gen mobile (3G), WiFi, and emerging wireless broadband services and the impact that the IMS architecture will have on their networks. The study covers the drivers, challenges, strategies, expenditures, technology choices, and manufacturer preferences of these providers. Major next gen mobile and wireless broadband network equipment manufacturers were rated by respondents based on technology, product roadmap, reliability, service and support, and pricing. The resulting manufacturer scorecards are included in the report.

Download sample data at www.info.infonetics.com. For sales, contact Larry Howard, vice president, at larry@infonetics.com or +1 (408) 583-3335.

Infonetics Research (www.infonetics.com) is the premier international market research and consulting firm specializing in data networking and telecom. Services include market share and forecasting, end-user survey research, service provider survey research and capex analysis.

 Press Contact: Richard Webb Directing Analyst, Wireless Broadband & Mobile Infonetics Research, Inc. +1 (408) 583-3369 Contact via http://www.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=6DAFFFAB00CEF3DF  

SOURCE: Infonetics Research

Source: MARKET WIRE

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