Wireless to outnumber fixed broadband connections 5 to 1 by 2015

Stan Beer
Monday, 21 February 2011 19:27

IT Industry - Market

New projections from the telecoms research group that provides market intelligence for NBN Co has forecast that wireless broadband growth will easily outpace that of fixed line connections in Australia for the next five years. By 2015, projections show that the number of wireless broadband connections will outnumber fixed line connections by more than 5 to 1.

According to the latest figures supplied to iTWire by Ovum, the total number of wireless broadband connections will grow from 17.5 million in 2010 to 28.2 million in 2014 (61%). Over the same period, fixed line connections will grow from 5.2 million to 5.9 million (13.5%).

The total wireless broadband figures encompass both small screen connections, such as smart phones, and large screen connections, such as tablets, notebooks and desktop computers, with both categories outpacing fixed lined growth.

In 2010, small screen wireless connections numbered 13.9 million, with large screen connections making up the remaining 3.6 million.  By 2015, small screen connections are forecast to be 26.4 million (89.9% growth from 2010), while large screen wireless connections will rival fixed line connections, numbering about 5 million (38.9%).

The figures project a slowing in growth of both wireless and fixed line connections as the market becomes saturated over the next five years.

According to Ovum senior analyst Nicole McCormick, growth in the small and large screen wireless markets will slow dramatically over the next five years.

'Growth is tapering over the medium and long term and we expect that as the market saturates,' Ms McCormick told iTWire.

'Year on year growth in 2010 for small screen (wireless) was 24% and will drop to 12.6% in 2015. For big screen, growth will drop from 27% in 2010 to 6% in 2015.'

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