OTTAWA – Cellular-enabled broadband devices like tablets, coupled with Canada’s proliferation of smart phones, will result in mobile data traffic growth of up to thirty-fold in the next three years, according to a new study released by Industry Canada.
The Study of Future Demand for Radio Spectrum in Canada 2011-2015, conducted by Markham, ON-based Red Mobile Consulting in conjunction with PA Consulting Group, examines the demand for spectrum from 52 MHz to 38 GHz across 15 different service sectors in Canada.
Over that same time period, total consumption from voice, data and messaging in Canada is forecasted to grow from 4 Petabytes (PB) to almost 75 PB. That means that between 300 MHz to 500 MHz of cellular spectrum will be needed by 2015, including overhead (consideration for network operation, future investment scenarios) to accommodate the service demand, the report continues.
With over 14% of Canada situated in rural areas deemed un-served or underserved by broadband Internet, the report also assesses the growth of fixed wireless access (FWA) services and the opportunity it presents to permit broadband connectivity across the country. Point-to-Multipoint FWA is estimated to double in demand from 150 MHz to 300 MHz by 2015. Point-to-Point FWA, which has great importance in its ability to provide enterprise services that meet high-speed requirements, is estimated to experience demand growth from 500 MHz to 1200 MHz by 2015.
Providing the backbone to cellular and FWA broadband traffic, microwave backhaul links are estimated to grow from 900 MHz in 2010 to between 2600 MHz and 3400 MHz by 2015. The forecast considers that the appetite of continued demand in cellular (HSPA/LTE), as well as increasing fixed network demands, are the primary drivers for demand growth from backhaul microwave services.
Other wireless services analyzed in the report include broadcasting, satellite, land-mobile, public safety, amateur radio, aeronautical, maritime mobile, military, radiodetermination, space science, consumer devices and medical devices.
