4G Wireless Evolution - In-Stat Predicts Growth of Mobile Baseband Connectivity but Slow Transition to 4G

Market research firm In-Stat (News - Alert) has reported that the mobile devices in the future are increasingly going to be baseband modem enabled.
Researching the worldwide market for integrated baseband modems for mobile devices, In-Stat examined the technical and market dynamics surrounding the integration of baseband modems in the mobile service, the unit sale of forecasts of handsets, and CE devices through 2014, and also examined many vendor profiles.
The report came to the conclusion that about 2 billion mobile devices out of a total of 2.8 billion will ship with baseband modem technology in 2014, andLTE ( News - Alert) is expected to account for 61.2 percent of 4G-enabled mobile devices in 2014.
Over the next five years, the transition to 4G, which has already begun, is going to be very slow. Smartphones and computing devices are the only devices that are expected to make the switchover to 4G, while handsets and mobile CE devices will cling on to 2G or 3G networks.
According to an In-Stat forecast, only 3.6 percent of mobile devices with baseband connectivity will be using 4G by 2014, despite the fact that 3G networks are being stressed by data traffic that is increasing at exponential levels.
“Much higher percentages of computing and mobile consumer electronics devices will feature integrated baseband modems over the next few years,” said Jim McGregor, In-Stat analyst.
However, McGregor said that it was unfortunately true that only few would have 4G capability. He cited limited spectrum availability, constricting business models, and other market and industry issues as reasons, as to why 4G wireless technologies was slow on the uptake.
In-Stat’s market intelligence combines technical, market and end-user research and database models to analyze the Mobile Internet and Digital Entertainment ecosystems. Its insights are derived from a deep understanding of technology impacts, nearly 30 years of history in research and consulting, and direct relationships with leading players in each of our core markets.

Mini Swamy is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Marisa Torrieri
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