Network

Concluded by a new report by Juniper Research, high-speed packet access – HSPA - is forecast to dominate mobile broadband network deployments over the next five years, consistently accounting for about 70 per cent of the total mobile broadband subscriber base until 2012.

Globally nearly one-third of mobile subscribers will use a mobile broadband connection by 2012. This will represent over 1 billion users, driven by demand from North America, Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, by the Far East and China.

However, the main gating issue that will dictate take-up for this technology will be the availability of suitable devices; whether handsets, laptops, datacards, or other types of device, such as media players.

“HSPA’s in-service status in 2007 makes it already the most advanced mobile broadband technology, with many further deployments due in the near and medium term,” says the report author Howard Wilcox. “For the 3G service provider base, HSPA represents a software upgrade rather than a new network investment; HSPA will also benefit from technology ‘leap’ subscribers in the developing nations, and handset churn elsewhere, with users migrating to HSPA-based broadband as the norm.”

Wilcox adds: “Over the last year there has been significant activity in the Mobile WiMAX market, including many trials and contract announcements by leading vendors and operators. Mobile WiMAX is now positioned to achieve a single digit-per-cent proportion of the global mobile broadband subscriber base by 2012. This will represent a significant attainment for this new mobile platform.” Juniper believes that the WiMAX market will see substantial growth after 2012, as new networks are built out and new applications are adopted.