Capital investment in mobile broadband technologies will reach up to $72 billion in 2010, according to the GSM Association.
The new operator capex investment data, compiled by global investment firm Deutsche Bank, reflects the continued consumer and enterprise demand for mobile broadband services and the need for underlying infrastructure.
The Asia Pacific region will see the greatest investment in mobile broadband with predicted capital expenditure of up to $34 billion. North America follows with up to $19 billion, with Europe expected to invest up to $14 billion.
Mobile broadband is set to account for 52% of all operator investment in mobile infrastructure globally. By the end of 2010 the number of HSPA connections will reach 342 million, said the GSMA.
“The market is growing at nine million a month now, and will be growing at 13 million a month by the end of the year,” said Michael O’Hara, the trade association’s chief marketing officer.
The current number of HSPA connections is 200 million, implying an annual growth rate of around 70%.
“We’re still on track for one billion HSPA connections by 2013,” O’Hara told Global Telecoms Business.
By the end of 2010, Europe will have 120 million connections, becoming the number one region for HSPA, with the Asia Pacific accounting for 116 million and North America 58 million.
Meanwhile terminal vendors say that 80 networks have committed to the fast version of the technology, called HSPA Evolution or HSPA+. Their trade association, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association or GSA, says that HSPA+ is now commercially launched on 13% of HSPA networks.
The ecosystem includes 32 HSPA+ devices which have been announced by 11 suppliers.
Alan Hadden, president of the GSA, said: “Our network update shows that 41 HSPA+ systems have now entered commercial service in 26 countries, of which 36 support a peak downlink data speed of 21 megabits a second and five systems support 28 megabits.”
By the end of 2010 “there will be at least 100 HSPA+ networks in service around the world”, said Hadden. “This figure will include systems with 42 megabits peak downlink capability.” GTB