Skip to main content

Confused Analysts Can't Forecast 3G Mobile

Many factors impact base station demand, and the largest is the uptake and usage of 3G technology in mobile service provider networks, according to the latest study by In-Stat.

Should uptake of 3G services be light over the next several years, the only new base stations required would be those to support more subscribers and for replacement of old or broken base stations, the high-tech market research firm says.

But, should 3G demand miraculously become heavy, the number of base stations required to quench this wireless demand could be large, with operators paying dearly for new base stations.

However, given the lack of consumer demand for 3G services, it's the equipment vendors who continue to benefit. Meaning, analysts are apparently puzzled.

"Our forecast for 3G data use falls somewhere between very little use and heavy use," says Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst. "While there are many convincing arguments for heavy wireless data use, competing technologies, such as WiMAX and wired Internet access, will reduce 3G data demand, and the cost of 3G services will be prohibitive in many regions."

In-Stat's market study found the following:

- More than 4.7 million cellular base stations will be in operation by 2011.

- Cellular demand in China and India will keep sales of GSM base stations strong for many years.

- Licenses for TD-SCDMA will be given out in 2008, but shipments of TD-SCDMA base stations will pale in comparison to WCDMA base station shipments.

Popular posts from this blog

The AI Application Integration Challenge

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become the defining force in business technology development, but integrating AI into applications remains a formidable challenge. According to a recent Gartner survey, 77 percent of engineering leaders identify AI integration in apps as a major hurdle for their organizations. As demand for AI-powered solutions accelerates across every industry, understanding the tools, the barriers, and the opportunities is essential for business and technology leaders seeking to evolve. The Gartner survey highlights a key trend: while AI’s potential is widely recognized, the path to useful integration is anything but straightforward. IT leaders cite complexities in embedding AI models into existing software, managing data pipelines, ensuring security, and maintaining compliance as persistent obstacles. These challenges are compounded by a shortage of skilled AI engineers and the rapid evolution of AI technologies, which can outpace organizational readiness and...