Over 2 billion wireless broadband users by 2015 - Report

Research from Telecoms expert Analysys Mason predicts that there are significant revenue opportunities in cellular technologies.

HSPA technology (or 3.5G) is set to dominate over the next few years, with a natural progression to HSPA+ technology for GSM operators.  At the end of 2008, 88% of all wireless broadband consumers will be connected via HSPA technology.

The next evolution to even faster LTE-based wireless services will take off slowly according to Analysys Mason, but most MNOs (Mobile network operators) will upgrade to this technology rather than use WiMAX, which also has the potential to provide very fast wireless broadband speeds.

However, there is a fairly grim outlook for WiMAX.  There will be twenty times as many cellular-based wireless broadband services (such as HSPA and LTE) as WiMAX. 

“The vast majority of MNOs will not break ranks to WiMAX, but will upgrade to LTE,  resulting in over four times more LTE users by the end of 2015,” according to co-author  Dr Alastair Brydon.