HAMPSHIRE, UK – As demand for 4G LTE mobile service continues to grow, global 4G LTE revenues are set to reach more than $340 billion in 2017, according to a new report from UK-based consulting firm Juniper Research.
Mobile broadband service revenues over the next five years will account for over $1 trillion, representing approximately 17% of the cumulative operator billed service revenue from all mobile services.
“Along with the 4G network roll-out, the 4G/Wi-Fi combination will continue to provide a scalable and cost effective solution. It offers long term benefits, with the present offload platforms supporting future network infrastructures, and is now a priority for many operators,” said Nitin Bhas, author of Juniper’s Mobile Broadband: 4G LT E & Wi-Fi Strategies and Opportunities 2013-2017 report.
The report says that operators need to integrate Wi-Fi offload with other monetization opportunities such as location based services (indoor and outdoor) to generate additional revenues.
Finding the right pricing models is also key if operators want to profit from the momentum of increased 4G LTE demand over the past 12 months. As an example, the report cites the case of UK-based phone company EE, which cut its initial LTE pricing by approximately 14% within weeks of its network launch, while Three UK announced 4G access at no extra cost. In the U.S., Verizon announced strong adoption of its Share Everything 4G data plans.
The report is available for purchase at www.juniperresearch.com.
