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Upside for Fixed LTE Broadband Internet Access Market

There's no doubt, 4G LTE has turbocharged the Mobile Internet experience, which has reflected in rapid adoption of new smartphones along with other mobile devices. Besides, it has also reinvigorated the broadband wireless marketplace.

According to the latest market study by ABI Research, 1.26 billion households do not have DSL, cable, or fiber-optic broadband. Fixed and mobile service providers are looking to LTE to make the connection.

"By the end of 2014, we anticipate there will be 14.5 million residential and commercial premises with fixed LTE broadband access. By 2019, that figure should grow to 123 million," said Jake Saunders, VP and 4G practice director at ABI Research.

Chipset and CPE technology vendors are stepping up efforts to prime the market by manufacturing lower cost devices for both the consumer and enterprise mobility segments.

Chinese vendors -- such as Huawei and ZTE -- along with American brands such as NETGEAR and Novatel Wireless have partnerships with North American carriers like Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T to provide exclusive LTE routers that utilize the carrier's individual 4G networks.

ABI Research forecasts the shipment numbers for residential LTE gateways and commercial LTE fixed wireless terminals to grow from 9.3 million in 2014 to nearly 44 million in 2019.

Fixed LTE broadband access is proving to be an add-on market opportunity for a number of mobile operators that were initially focused on the mobility market.

On the chipset front, Intel is keen to jostle for market share with the likes of Sequans, Qualcomm, and GCT. In June 2014, Intel and Lantiq announced the release of a Cat6 LTE 300 Mbps joint reference platform.

Integrated devices like LTE gateways and fixed wireless terminals help to provide a solution for users in rural areas to have access to high-speed Internet.

The ongoing CTIA Super Mobility Week has been featuring vendors showcasing their products that facilitate fixed BWA.

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