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LTE Mobile Broadband to Generate $70bn in Revenues

LTE technology (The name given to a project to improve the UMTS mobile phone standard to cope with future technology evolutions) is set to revolutionise mobile broadband services with dramatically increased speeds for both businesses and consumers over the next five years, a new study from Juniper Research concluded.

The Juniper Research LTE Mobile Broadband report found that revenues from LTE mobile broadband subscribers will exceed $70 billion globally by 2014.

Broadband Consumer Electronics Devices

Juniper Research found that this exciting technology will create a new connected era for devices such as portable games consoles and digital cameras, with vendors already eyeing the prospects. In this way, LTE will bridge the gap between the mobile and consumer electronics worlds.

Challenges Ahead

However, the LTE Mobile Broadband report determined that there are several open issues that need addressing before the market takes off. Report author Howard Wilcox cautioned: "LTE will offer broadband speeds of up to 100mbit/s or more: this is at least five times faster than the best mobile broadband now and around 20 times faster than most people experience via fixed DSL. The challenge for mobile operators is how to make profits yet keep prices attractive enough for subscribers to sign up. Its all about the business case.

Further findings include:

LTEs main markets will be the developed nations of North America, Western Europe, the Far East and China, which together will account for 90% of the market by 2014.

Mobile commerce and payments, the mobile web and the need to return to economic growth will all drive mobile broadband.

Although the recession could have short term impact, LTEs longer term prospects should not be adversely affected.