Global - Mobile Broadband - WiFi has Key Role in Telecoms

Synopsis

Telecom Investment Research Note

In 2012 the use of WiFi hotspots continues to rise due to increasing popularity from smart phone and mobile device users. The status of Wifi technology is continuing to improve; creating a whole new range of opportunities in the WiFi market.

Smartphone users want faster, more ubiquitous and reliable connectivity, while operators are looking to squeeze every last bit of capacity out of their cellular networks. As a result smarter WiFi is needed so that it can take on a more strategic role as part of the overall mobile network infrastructure. Ultimately users simply want the fastest and most reliable wireless connection they can get.

This report provides information on the key trends in the WiFi sector. The report is designed to provide current observations which may assist investors, analysts and industry participants in making investment and business decisions.

Latest developments:

In 2012 there are millions of public WiFi hotspots around the world; later in 2012 the Wi-Fi Alliance expected to release the Wi-Fi Certified Passpoint standard to automate logins; growth of the WiFi carrier equipment market will be driven by mobile operators deploying carrier WiFi to offload a portion of their mobile data traffic.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. WiFi starts playing a key role in telecoms
  • 2.1 Watch out for the next WiFi wave
  • 2.2 Key developments for enterprise WiFi
  • 2.3 Global WiFi roaming
  • 2.4 Carrier WiFi equipment market exploding to $2.1 billion by 2016
• 3. Global WiFi market summary
• 4. Brief country case studies
  • 4.1 UK WiFi overview
  • 4.2 China WiFi overview
  • 4.3 USA WiFi overview
• 5. Other short-range technologies
  • 5.1.1 Bluetooth
  • 5.1.2 Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
  • 6. Related reports
  • Table 1 – Number of WiFi mobile handset shipments worldwide – 2009 – 2010; 2015
  • Table 2 – Number of public WiFi hotspots worldwide – 2010 - 2016
  • Table 3 – Number of public WiFi hotspots – top 10 countries worldwide – mid-2009; early 2011
  • Table 4 – Installed base of Bluetooth devices worldwide – 2005; 2007; 2010; 2011
  • Exhibit 1 – Wi-Fi Direct
  • Exhibit 2 – WLAN operator business models – 2012
  • Exhibit 3 – Bluetooth SIG