Cable / Telecom News

Portable entertainment devices equipped with 3G/4G radios to eclipse 100 M next year: report


WITH CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY no longer just for mobile phones and laptops, a variety of portable entertainment devices (PEDs) incorporating cellular connectivity are providing a growing revenue opportunity for network operators, content owners, and manufacturers, says In-Stat.

According to a new report called Worldwide 3G/4G Portable Entertainment Device Tracker, there will be significant growth across all categories of 3G/4G-enabled PEDs over the next five years.  The report, which provides worldwide and regional forecasts of non-traditional cellular-connected CE devices like e-readers, personal navigation devices, and digital photo frames, also predicts that WCDMA will be the dominant enabling technology across the majority of shipments, with the exception of digital photo frames where GSM will be dominant.

“Standalone e-readers represent the brightest spot in 3G/4G-enabled PEDs with unit shipments expected to grow significantly across all regions over the next several years,” said senior analyst Stephanie Ethier, in the report’s press release. “North America will dominate compared to other regions capturing 64% of the worldwide 3G/4G e-reader market by 2014. Asia/Pacific will rank second in market share.”

Other research findings include:

– Total 3G/4G PED unit shipments across all segments will increase by 87% between 2009 and 2014;
– Total 3G/4G PED unit shipments in Asia will surpass 5 million by 2013;
– Of the PED markets included in this research, only e-readers are expected to incorporate 4G technology over the next five years; and
– Western Europe 3G/4G PED unit shipments will jump by 542% in 2012 over 2011.

www.in-stat.com