Installed Base of Wi-Fi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateways is Projected to Surpass 10.6 Million by 2020

Attractive Economics of Mobile Data Traffic Offloading Drives Wi-Fi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateways Market, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

GIA launches comprehensive analysis of industry segments, trends, growth drivers, market share, size and demand forecasts on the global Wi-Fi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateways market. Installed base of Wi-Fi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateways is projected to surpass 10.6 million by 2020, driven by the growing demand for anytime, anywhere network access; growing adoption of mobile computing devices; transition to 4G networks; and attractive economics of offloading mobile data traffic.

Mobile infrastructure is undergoing transformation, driven by technological advances and rapid growth in data consumption and traffic. The growing data traffic is creating significant challenges to mobile operators without corresponding increase in average revenue per user. Conventionally, operators relied on expansion of spectrum as a means to expand capacity and coverage, which is an expensive endeavor. A practical way out of this challenge is to expand capacity and coverage through investments in less expensive equipment in order to support the deluge of data traffic expected in the years to come. High cost of spectrum and the threat of lower capacity to address growing data needs are compelling mobile operators worldwide to increasingly invest in smaller base stations or small cells, carrier Wi-Fi and other solutions that enhance network capacity. Given the unlicensed and free nature of Wi-Fi, operators are channeling significant resources into carrier Wi-Fi and smart cells. However, with a potential saturation of the unlicensed spectrum and limitations of the technology, tremendous prospects lie ahead for smart cells with integrated Wi-Fi capabilities. Wi-Fi is already gaining importance as a key component of small cells, and is expected to account for more than half of new small cell shipments in the future.

Growing invasion of embedded Wi-Fi capabilities in stationary as well as mobile electronic devices in tandem with growing LTE investments from carriers are driving many wireless network carriers to adopt Wi-Fi-enabled LTE small cell gateways.

The unprecedented growth in mobile data traffic is compelling telecom operators to re-design their strategies for base station deployment for overcoming capacity shortage issues. In this highly competitive market, capacity expansion using existing macro cells is an expensive proposition requiring substantial investments in the form of capital expenditure to provide capacity and coverage for maintaining service quality and user experience. Small cells permit as well as address physical space issues related to macrocells with lower capital expenditure. Macro towers are usually installed in the form of hexagonal grid cells, each with a coverage radius of up to 30 kilometers. However, with growing density of population in many areas and mounting data traffic, carriers are showing greater interest in deploying Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and small cells within the macrocell network in a bid to address growing data demand in crowded spaces.

As stated by the new market research report on Wi-Fi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateways, mobile data traffic is on fast track growth in the United States, the largest market worldwide. Existing capacity is expected to be outstripped by this explosion of data, requiring operators to explore options to add capacity. Asia-Pacific with a CAGR of over 143% through the analysis period constitutes the fastest growing market, led by growing number of mobile Internet subscribers, strong penetration of smartphones and tablets, growing digitalization of modern lives and the ensuing heavy use of applications for file sharing, streaming, and browsing.     

Major players covered in the report include Airspan Networks, Airvana LP, Alpha Networks, Inc., Argela, Cisco Systems Inc., Contela, Ericsson, ip.access Ltd., Juni, Redline Communications, Ruckus Wireless, Inc., SK telesys, SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc., and TEKTELIC Communications, Inc., among others.

The research report titled “Wi-Fi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateways: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities of global companies. The report provides installed base market estimates and projections of Wi-Fi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateways in thousand units for all major geographic markets such as the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World.

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