The global
mobile broadband market has experienced a tenfold increase over
the past twelve year, according to statistics released by the
GSM Association
(GSMA), the global trade association for the mobile
industry.
The GSMA predicts that there now exist more than 32 million
mobile broadband
(
HSDPA) connections worldwide compared with just over 3 million
at the end of the first quarter of 2007.
The momentum has been gathering pace thanks to 166 mobile
broadband (HSPA) networks deploying live services in 73 countries
as more and more operators upgrade their 3G networks with HSPA
technology in parallel with the growing availability of a wide
number of advanced HSPA handsets.
“The uptake of mobile services…is rising in many countries as users
are experiencing the benefits of high-speed mobile broadband,” said
Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA. “We are witnessing the creation of a
virtuous circle in which mobile broadband is achieving greater and
greater economies of scale, driving down the cost of handsets and
equipment and enabling more and more people to enjoy easy access to
media-rich services over the air.”
The number of networks now offering commercial mobile broadband
services has also increased significantly over the past year. The
GSMA recorded a 44% increase, between May 2007 and March 2008, in
the number of mobile broadband (HSPA) enabled networks.
Over the past 16 months there has also been a significant increase
in the number of commercially available HSPA-enabled devices. The
GSMA estimates the growth of HSPA devices to be more than 265
percent, with 128 devices available in January 2007 and more than
467 available in March 2008. Mobile broadband (HSPA)-enabled
devices include mobile handsets, notebook PCs, data cards, wireless
routers and USB modems.