Mobile Broadband Device Boom – GSA Confirms 3,071 Products Launched
April 27, 2011: The choice, range and data speeds of mobile broadband user devices continue to rapidly expand, according to new statistics published by the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association). The updated HSPA Devices survey confirms that 3,071 HSPA user devices have been announced in the market. A total of 722 products were launched over the past 12 months, confirming over 30% annual growth. The number of manufacturers increased by 14% to 262 companies in this period.
GSA recently confirmed that 398 HSPA networks are commercially launched in 160 countries. Migration to HSPA Evolution (HSPA+) is continuing as a major trend and 123 operators (30%) have also launched HSPA+ systems. Most operators entering the market today are launching immediately with HSPA+ and GSA forecasts there will be at least 150 commercial HSPA+ systems launched by end 2011. In step with this evolution, the HSPA Devices survey confirms 144 HSPA+ user devices have been launched, more than triple the number in the market in April 2010. More than 30% of these devices support 42 Mbps DC-HSPA+ networks ensuring a substantial product choice for customers of the growing number of operators who have launched, or are deploying DC-HSPA+ capability.
The huge success of mobile broadband enabled by 3G/HSPA and rapid data growth has fuelled demand 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. The GSA survey confirms that 618 UMTS900 devices supporting HSPA (and in some cases HSPA+) have been launched in the market by 87 suppliers, almost double the number of products (321) available one year ago. Excluding notebooks and e-book readers, over 24% of HSPA devices can operate at 900 MHz. A related GSA report, UMTS900 Global Status, also just released, confirms that 30 UMTS900 networks are now commercially launched in 22 countries with at least another 18 networks planned, in deployment or in testing phase.
Almost 200 operators have also committed to commercial network deployments or trials of LTE, and many of them require service continuity which will usually mean fall back to current HSPA/HSPA+ and GSM/EDGE systems. Manufacturers are fully aligning their product developments with operator strategies. The HSPA Devices survey confirms that 53 dual-mode HSPA-LTE devices have already been launched.
HSPA DEVICES SURVEY – KEY FACTS:
1,271 Mobile phones including smartphones (29% annual growth)
541 USB modems
491 Notebooks, netbooks
363 Wireless routers/gateways, mobile hotspots
286 PC data cards (PCMCIA cards, ExpressCards, embedded modules)
48 Personal Media Players, UMPCs
24 Femtocells
12 E-book readers
8 Cameras
27 Mobile tablets
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Total 3,071
HSPA DEVICES CAPABILITIES (excluding notebooks and e-book readers):
* 2,362 HSPA devices (92%) support peak downlink data speeds of 3.6 Mbps or more, including 1,570 devices (61%) supporting 7.2 Mbps peak or higher.
* 144 HSPA+ devices launched by 28 suppliers: 89 devices support 21 Mbps peak DL, 9 support 28 Mbps, 45 support 42 Mbps (DC-HSPA+), 1 enables 84 Mbps.
* 1,069 HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) devices launched, representing over 75% annual growth. 630 HSUPA devices (59%) support or are upgradeable for 5.76 Mbps peak operation, including 17 devices supporting 11.5 Mbps uplink.
* 53 dual-mode HSPA-LTE devices launched.
* 40 HSPA phones with HD Voice (W-AMR) technology launched (including frequency variants).
* 1,001 HSPA devices incorporate 802.11/WLAN (39%), 59% annual growth.
* 877 HSPA devices (34%) incorporate GPS or A-GPS, 54% annual growth.
The GSA HSPA Devices Survey – Key Findings report is available via the link at www.gsacom.com
Also available (as referenced above):
* UMTS900 Global Status (April 26, 2011)
* Mobile HD Voice Global Update (April 26, 2011)
* HSPA Network Operator Commitments (April 8, 2011)
* HSPA+ Network Operator Commitments (April 8, 2011)
Related charts, maps etc. are available at www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4
GSA website: www.gsacom.com
News/updates RSS Feed: www.gsacom.com/rss/gsanews.php4
GSA LinkedIN group: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2313721
Twitter: www.twitter.com/gsacom
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Global-mobile-Suppliers-Association-GSA/12346277101255
About GSA
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 • inCode • mimoOn • MindTree Ltd • Nokia • Nokia Siemens Networks • Qualcomm • Sony Ericsson • SpiderCloud Wireless • ST-NXP Wireless • Talking Eye • Telcordia Technologies • Velocent Systems
