US Mobile Broadband Market to Top 30.2M Users in 2014

A recently published report from IDC (International Data Corporation) shows that the mobile broadband market is expected to grow significantly during the next few years. According to the research firm, this wireless segment should go from 6.5 million subscribers in 2009 to around 30.2 million users in 2014. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the mobile broadband market is expected to be of 36.1% over the forecast period.

According to the report, interest among customers towards mobile broadband has been helped lately by the availability of subsidized netbooks and tablets, by new pricing structures, and by the availability of 4G (WiMAX) connectivity. More and more users are choosing mobile broadband as a secondary option besides wired connectivity, and IDC says that there are chances that mobile would become the primary connectivity option in the long run.

“Mobile broadband is growing in importance for both consumers adopting the service and the operators offering connectivity,” Carrie MacGillivray, program manager, Mobility Services, says. “Diversity in pricing plans, new computing devices capable of mobile broadband connections, and the promise of a 4G world with faster speeds are a tempting proposition for customers looking to be ubiquitously connected regardless of location, anytime.”

The landscape of mobile handsets has seen important changes too, and smartphones and other wirelessly connected devices (Apple's iPad included) should also drive the market upwards. Tablets are becoming more broadly available, and the need for connectivity at all times will determine consumers to go for mobile broadband.

“It is an exciting time for mobile broadband. 2010 will see growing interest and adoption of services, but being at the threshold of a world with 4G - both WiMAX and LTE fully deployed - will play a positive role in spurring growth within the consumer and the business segment,” IDC concludes. Additional details on the report are available on the research firm's website.