Energy efficiency may be the most significant barrier to
3G take up, rather than reliability, or consumer acceptance,
according to a new analyst report.
Researchers at ABI Research believe mobile broadband such as 3G
means that the energy required per subscriber arising from
increasing data uptake will push per-subscriber energy costs for
operators for mobile voice and data beyond acceptable level.
This could force carriers to move from a traditional
cellular-only approach to one that integrates a variety of local
wireless network technologies including Wi-Fi, WiMax and Metro
WiFi.
Stuart Carlaw, director of wireless research at ABI Research,
says that, "From a pure coverage perspective WiMAX is twice as
energy-cost-effective and metro Wi-Fi is 50 times more
energy-cost-effective than [3G].
When data traffic is factored into the equation, WiMAX can
accommodate 11 times today's average data consumption and still be
more energy-cost-efficient compared to [3G technologies]."
A recent ABI Research study found that the total energy
consumption arising from mobile broadband service delivery is
forecast to grow from 42.8 billion kilowatt hours (KWh) in 2005 to
124.4 billion KWh in 2011. The Asia Pacific region will account for
the majority of this growth.
Last year, Wi-Fi operator The Cloud launched metropolitan-wide Wi-Fi
network in Manchester and expects to follow suit in other major UK
cities.
Past articles:
WiMax clearing path to mainstream
Past articles:
Users urged to beef up WiMax security
Past articles:
Manchester calls for broadband wireless network suppliers
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