3G best option for high-speed wireless data access: study
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, MARCH 07, 2003 12:35:45 PM ]
economictimes.indiatimes.com
A new Visant Strategies study titled “3G and 3G Alternatives: 3G vs. Wi-Fi vs. 4G,” has thrown up some interesting facts on the new communications technologies spearheading the wireless revolution.
While today's second-generation GSM networks deliver high quality and secure mobile voice and data services (such as SMS/Text Messaging) with full roaming capabilities across the world, the progress hasn't stopped there.
Despite qualms about its early success after years of promise, 2.5G and 3G technologies will still show the best long-term results when it comes to wireless data access, the study points out. However, 4G and Wi-Fi technologies will also grow as high-speed wireless data systems become varied and operators choose an air-interface matching the varied wants and needs of desired audiences.
The growing 2.5G, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi market and the role each air-interface will play is defined in the study that details the 2.5G, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi world markets by subscribers, market share, infrastructures sales and voice and data revenues from 2002 through 2007.
The study finds 2.5G and 3G deployment will be varied. Operators are now seeking to extend the life and capabilities of existing 2G systems through upgrades to GPRS, EDGE, and cdma2000 1XRTT in some cases before considering W-CDMA.
However, subscribers to W-CDMA-based services will still reach 90 million by 2007, with most subscribers residing in Japan and Europe.
Spurring on 3G will be competition from fourth generation wireless systems, according to the study, which are due to be rolled out by the end of 2003 by forward-thinking wireless operators who have been working with 4G technology providers during the past years. Digital fourth-generation IP-based high-speed cellular systems will account for 14 percent of total mobile and portable wireless data revenues in 2007 and 50 million subscribers by year-end 2007.
WLAN hot spots will generate approximately $12 billion in revenues in 2007, according to study findings. Wi-Fi operators and aggregators will form a symbiotic relationship with mobile operators, with mobile carriers accounting for over 60 percent of all hot spot revenues in 2007. Mobile operators are already using Wi-Fi to complement existing services and are expanding the use of the technology, particularly in the enterprise sector, which is fueling both Wi-Fi and mobile wireless applications.
Wi-Fi’s growth becomes even more realistic when Wi-Fi operators team with 2.5G and 3G providers to provide high-speed wide area coverage coupled with even higher speeds at the hot spot. These and other partnering strategies are becoming more common today as operators have learned they may have to depend on each other for growth. |
