Strategy Analytics released its report, "Worldwide Cellular User Forecast 2005-2010," forecasting that the worldwide cellular user base will increase from 1.7 billion at the end of 2005 to 2.5 billion by the end of 2010, a 38 percent penetration rate. With average revenues falling 7 percent to $30 per user per month in 2005, Strategy Analytics expects further weakness in global ARPUs as increasingly prepaid-centric and low-ARPU China, India and other emerging markets remain the engine for user growth. Phil Kendall, report author and director of wireless operator research at Strategy Analytics, commented, "Voice usage will increase from 5.6 trillion minutes in 2005 to 12.6 trillion in 2010. GSM-based systems will continue to dominate the cellular landscape, accounting for 81 percent of subscribers and 76 percent of service revenues in 2010, though CDMA's more rapid evolution to 3G will see it dominate 3G subscriber volumes in the medium term." David Kerr, Vice President of the Global Wireless Practice, added, "3G subscribers will pass 50 million at the end of 2005. More importantly, European 3G markets are now outpacing Japan. The outlook for 3G is healthy provided that operators and their handset partners can expand beyond postpaid only users into the larger, but more price elastic, prepaid user segments.
As an independent advisory consultant, I've observed the rapid evolution of connectivity solutions in manufacturing. The recent survey by ABI Research highlights a significant shift towards private cellular networks, an emerging era in industrial digitization. The manufacturing sector is already undergoing a transformation, driven by the need for enhanced operational efficiency, reliability, and scalability. Wireless technology is an enabler. Private cellular networks, particularly 4G and 5G technologies, are at the forefront of this change, reshaping the connectivity landscape in factories and production facilities. Private Cellular Network Market Development The latest worldwide ABI Research survey provides compelling evidence of this trend. The study, which encompassed manufacturer decision-makers reveals some striking stats: 44 percent are already in the early stages of deploying 4G private networks. An impressive 75 percent of manufacturers are considering 5G implementation. 4...