Mobile Broadband Subscriptions to Top 1 Billion by 2014

Research firm Strategy Analytics has recently published a forecast according to which the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions around the world is expected to rise to around 1.3 billion by 2014, up from the 300 million registered in 2009. According to their report, the growth will be fueled by the use of smartphones and other handsets, as well as that of notebooks, netbooks and other consumer electronics, yet it seems that new technologies also play an important role in the area.

The Strategy Analytics Mobile Broadband Opportunities (MBO) service report, “Global Active Mobile Broadband Subscribers Forecast: 2008 - 2014,” shows that LTE is expected to show a great influence on new subscriber additions, and that 84 percent of them will be using this technology by 2014. At the same time, WiMAX is also expected to drive net additions in amount of 11 percent of their total number. According to Phil Kendall, executive director, Strategy Analytics Global Wireless Practice, the growth will be mainly driven on devices that can offer a great user experience over LTE and WiMAX, even if 3G will still account for a number of around two thirds of the total number of mobile broadband subscribers.

“Mobile Broadband is the exciting new frontier for consumer electronics, bringing a whole new world of connectivity, community and creativity to users. In 2014, almost half of mobile broadband net subscriber additions will be on devices other than mobile phones. Success will require new business models and partnerships, and Strategy Analytics is excited to see new announcements from Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile USA at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES),” says Susan Welsh de Grimaldo, director of the Strategy Analytics Mobile Broadband Opportunities (MBO) service.

In addition, Strategy Analytics expects for the new generation of smartphones, including handset like iPhone, Droid and Nexus One, to be the main category of devices used for mobile broadband data services, while notebooks and netbooks will follow closely. As for the rest of consumer electronics devices, they are forecast to account for only 11 percent of the total active mobile broadband subscriptions by 2014, the firm notes. Additional details are available on Strategy Analytics's website.