Drivers and barriers for mobile broadband in Western Europe

In Western Europe, the mobile broadband market has grown sharply in recent months and this trend is expected to continue. This report assesses what is driving the market and the potential barriers to uptake.

Among the key messages of the report are:

- The key driver is a combination of high-speed packet access (HSPA), USB modems and simplified pricing
- HSPA has delivered on the promise of 3G, but a mobile network still can’t compete with fixed
- The USB modem (or dongle) will remain the key device for access
- A portfolio of simple tariffs maximises the target audience, but the mobile premium remains a harsh reality

Report Highlights

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Executive summary

In a nutshell
Key messages
Ovum view

Mobile broadband: a definition

Definition

Drivers for mobile broadband

HSPA finally delivers on the 3G promise
Devices: you say dongle, I say USB modem
Future connectivity for mobile broadband: embedded and the handset as a modem
Tariffs: capped usage access on a fixed term contract
The Internet becomes omnipresent
Femtocells: a mobile broadband driver of the future?

Barriers for mobile broadband

Network limitations
Price: the mobile premium
Awareness
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Table 1 ZTE global datacard and USB modem shipments: 2007
Table 2 Examples of mobile broadband prepaid offers in Western Europe
Table 3 Western European mobile broadband ‘average’ service portfolio and pricing
Table 4 UK fixed and mobile broadband: cheapest price comparison
Table 5 UK fixed and mobile broadband: most expensive price comparison
Figure 1 Vodafone technology roadmap
Figure 2 3GPP HSPA evolutionary path
Figure 3 Western European connections by technology: 2007–11
Figure 4 Mobile broadband capped usage limits in Austria, Germany, Italy & UK
Figure 5 Mobile broadband contract lengths in Austria, Germany, Italy & UK
Figure 6 Contrasting femtocell business case scenarios
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