Mobile Broadband Data Device Horizons Continue to Expand – GSA HSPA Devices survey
August 4, 2011: The choice, range and capabilities of mobile broadband user devices continue to expand, according to new statistics cited in the latest HSPA Devices survey published today by the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association). The survey confirms that 3,227 HSPA user devices have been announced in the market, 25% higher than a year ago. The number of manufacturers increased by 29 to 264 in the same period.
Improving device capabilities and performance are clearly evident.
Two-thirds of user devices support peak downlink speeds of 7.2 Mbps or more, compared to just over 50% a year ago.
HSPA+ networks are mainstream and being deployed by 1 in 3 HSPA
HSPA+ operators. A
total of 35 device manufacturers have introduced 182 HSPA+ products, representing 264% year on year growth (in July 2010 GSA confirmed 50 HSPA+ devices had been launched by 11 manufacturers).
The HSPA Devices survey confirms that 97 devices support 21 Mbps peak downlink, 13 support 28 Mbps, 71 support 42 Mbps (DC-HSPA+), and 1 product supports 84 Mbps. GSA recently announced a 70% increase over 3 months in the number of 42 Mbps DC-HSPA+ networks which had entered commercial service, plus at least 26 more DC-HSPA+ networks in deployment or planned.
Uplink network data performance including peak data speeds have also gained.
The availability of HSUPA capable user devices has similarly expanded, and
1,184 products are now launched. 729 HSUPA devices, 100% higher than the figure one year earlier, support 5.76 Mbps or higher peak uplink data speed.
40 products, which is ten times higher than a year ago, can support 11.5 Mbps peak on the uplink.
The expanding range of smartphones is also clear from the survey. Excluding notebooks and e-book readers, 1,093 HSPA devices now incorporate 802.11/WLAN (over 40% of products), which is almost 49% annual growth. 945 HSPA devices
(34.8%) incorporate GPS or A-GPS navigational capabilities, representing 42.5% annual growth. The number of routers, including mobile hotspots, increased 45% in the same period. The rapidly developing choice of HSPA-enabled tablets is also more evident; 33 products have been launched.
The global success of mobile broadband enabled by 3G/HSPA technology and the data usage explosion is fuelling the need for more spectrum. Re-farming of GSM spectrum, particularly 900 MHz, is an option favored by many operators where practical, and in the knowledge that there exists a mature devices ecosystem of HSPA-capable 900 MHz (UMTS900) user devices. GSA confirms that
663 UMTS900 devices supporting HSPA (and in some cases HSPA+) are launched in the market, 65% higher than one year ago. Excluding notebooks and e-book readers, over 24% of HSPA devices can operate at 900 MHz.
Many HSPA operators are also investing in LTE technology. GSA recently reported that 218 operators are committed to commercial network deployments or trials of LTE. Many of them are HSPA operators and require service continuity throughout their operating area, which generally means a fall back to current HSPA/HSPA+ and GSM/EDGE network assets. Manufacturers are aligning product developments with operator strategies. The survey confirms 100 dual-mode HSPA-LTE devices are launched.
HSPA DEVICES SURVEY – KEY FACTS:
1,340 phones including smartphones
568 USB modems
498 Notebooks, netbooks
404 Wireless routers/gateways, mobile hotspots
292 PC data cards (PCMCIA cards, ExpressCards, embedded modules)
48 Personal Media Players, UMPCs
24 Femtocells
12 E-book readers
8 Cameras
33 Mobile tablets
(Total 3,227)
The GSA HSPA Devices Survey – Key Findings report is available to registered site users via the link at
Related charts, maps etc. are available at
www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4
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GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) represents GSM/EDGE/WCDMA-HSPA/LTE suppliers, providing reports, facts, analysis and information explaining market developments and trends. GSA-organized seminars facilitate enhanced dialog between operators, members and developer communities.
GSA member organizations: Aeroflex . AnyDATA Inc . Avvasi . Bytemobile .
Ericsson . Huawei . inCode . mimoOn . Nokia . Nokia Siemens Networks .
Qualcomm . Renesas Mobile . Sony Ericsson . SpiderCloud Wireless .
ST-Ericsson . Talking Eye . Telcordia Technologies . Velocent Systems
