Carriers Will Need Mobile Broadband Services to Compete in Emerging Markets, Finds Pyramid Research

Mobile broadband services will become necessary to remain competitive in emerging markets and will increasingly be used as a substitute for fixed broadband, according to the latest report by Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

"Mobile Broadband Computing Services: Complement or Substitute for Fixed Broadband" examines mobile broadband services enabled by 3G and WiMax networks on a global, regional, and market-by-market basis. Focusing on service plans offered for computing devices, this 111-page report assesses the positioning of mobile broadband computing relative to fixed broadband alternatives. Our tested framework promises to help identify the most efficient strategy for building revenue and sustaining market share in both competitive developed markets and low-income emerging environments. We also provide a five-year outlook on mobile broadband computing trends, including subscriber numbers, penetration levels, and revenue expectations on a market, regional, and global basis. Download an excerpt of this report here: http://www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=1&sc=PR032609_MBC

Pyramid expects fixed broadband to grow at a CAGR of 9 percent from 2008 to 2014, whereas mobile broadband computing will grow about three times as fast, totaling $69 billion by 2014 - 30 percent the size of fixed broadband, notes Daniel Locke, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research and co-author of the report. "In the medium term, developed markets, such as North America, will rake in the most revenue from mobile computing services, considering that operators have earmarked significant investments for HSPA+, WiMax, and LTE networks," he says. "In mature markets, mobile broadband networks can complement the fixed networks to ensure the best, ubiquitous connectivity, but more importantly, they can be the solution to the digital divide.

"In contrast, mobile broadband networks promise a wider reach and, thus, a larger addressable market in emerging markets, enabling mobile broadband access services to effectively compete with fixed broadband," Locke notes. "In many emerging markets, especially India, Africa, and the Middle East, HSPA and WiMax networks deliver geographic coverage that will not be matched by wireline infrastructure in the foreseeable future. The lack of coverage in emerging markets and rural areas of developed markets also puts 3G and WiMax as obvious choices for receiving broadband service."

Although service pricing remains a barrier to adoption, Pyramid expects declining prices and a large variety of prepaid plans to boost take-up over time in emerging markets. Furthermore, in developed markets, 4G technologies, such as LTE and 802.16m, will eventually support the capacity to provide high-bandwidth applications that will give fixed broadband customers enough reason to switch to mobile service.

"Mobile Broadband Computing Services: Complement or Substitute for Fixed Broadband" is part of Pyramid's research report series. A blend of primary research and qualitative analysis, Pyramid's research reports offer comprehensive coverage of the fixed and mobile communications space and enable those in the communications industry to stay ahead of changing market dynamics.

Download an excerpt of this report here: http://www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=1&sc=PR032609_MBC

"Mobile Broadband Computing Services: Complement or Substitute for Fixed Broadband" is priced at $2,490 and can be purchased online here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/RPMOBILEBROADBAND0903.htm?sc=PR032609_MBC or through Dave Williams via email at dave.williams@pyr.com or telephone at +1 858-485-8870.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media, and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies, and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries - a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry's most comprehensive market data, trusted research, and insightful technology analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the $3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (http://techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/.

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SOURCE: Pyramid Research

CONTACT: Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker@pyr.com

Web Site: http://www.pyr.com/