3GPP Broadband Evolution to IMT-Advanced - 4G Americas

Operators have begun deploying evolved HSPA features. Sixty-five HSPA+ networks arein service in 35 countries as of June 2010. 16 As the technology matures, upgrading toHSPA+ will likely represent a minimal investment for operators in order to significantlyboost network performance.LTE has not only become the preferred choice for operators as their next-generationwireless technology, but it has been chosen by public-safety organizations as theirbroadband technology of choice. The Association of Public-Safety CommunicationsOfficials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) have bothendorsed LTE. 17StatisticsA variety of statistics show the rapid growth in wireless data. Chetan Sharma reportedthat in Q1 2010, the US wireless data market grew 22% over Q1 of 2009 to reach $12.5billion in mobile-data service revenues, on track to the initial estimate of $54B for 2010.He also states that 62% of US subscribers were using some form of data service. 18Informa projects global mobile revenues to exceed $1 trillion in 2013. 19Though most mobile broadband growth today is based on HSPA (with some EV-DO), LTEshould see relatively rapid adoption as it becomes deployed. TeliaSonera launched theworld's first commercial LTE network in Oslo and Stockholm in December 2009, but AsiaPacific and North America will experience the first major wave of LTE rollouts in 2010through 2012. IDATE forecasts growth from 27 million subscribers in 2012 to 300 millionby 2015 in five major areas 20 (EU5+Scandinavia, Japan, South Korea, China, USA).According to 3G Americas, there are more than 100 operators that have committed orexpressed intentions to commit to LTE.International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts that the U.S. mobile broadband marketwill grow from 6.5 million subscribers in 2009 to 30.2 million in 2014, which accounts fora compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.1% over the forecast period. 21From a device perspective, Informa WCIS projected in June 2010 the following sales ratefor WCDMA handsets: 222010: 426 million (34% of global total)2011: 590 million (43% of global total)2012: 771 million (52% of global total)2013: 984 million (62% of global total)2014: 1.2 billion (70% of global total)16Source: 3G Americas, June, 2010.17 Source: http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/public-safety-groups-endorse-lte-broadbandsolution/2009-06-1218 Source: Chetan Sharma, US Wireless Data Market Update - Q1 2010.19 Source: Informa Telecom & Media, January 15, 2010.20 Source: IDATE, June 14, 2010. http://www.idate.org/en/News/-LTE-forecasts-worldwide_642.html21 IDC Says Market for U.S. Mobile Broadband About to Speed Up, June 15, 201022 Source: “World Cellular Information Service,” Informa Telecoms & Media, June 2010.Transition to 4G: 3GPP Broadband Evolution to IMT-Advanced, Rysavy Research/3G Americas, Aug 2010 Page 15