For service providers upgrading to 4G networks, backhaul is their top challenge – new survey

Campbell, CALIFORNIA, December 8, 2009—As part of its Continuous Research Service (CRS) series of service provider surveys, Infonetics Research published 4G Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey.

The survey, designed and conducted by senior analysts Stéphane Téral and Richard Webb, surveyed knowledgeable purchase decision-makers at service providers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (58%), North America (26%), Asia Pacific (11%), and Central and Latin America (5%) that operate a wireless network and have plans to deploy 4G.

The 19 service providers participating in the survey are a mix of incumbents (21%), competitives (26%) and wireless (53%) operators that together represents 27% of the world’s carrier revenue and 22% of the world’s telecom capital expenditures, as reported in Infonetics’ Service Provider Capex, Opex, ARPU, and Subscribers service.

Twenty-one percent of the survey respondents have GSM/GPRS/edge networks, 47% have W-CDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ networks, 16% have CDMA200 networks, and another 16% run fixed/nomadic or mobile WiMAX networks.

Service providers participating in the survey were asked when they anticipate their 4G network build-out to be complete, when they expected to have commercial 4G services running, and about the challenges they face and the technical and commercial drivers that are compelling them to upgrade to 4G technology.

“When we asked service providers about 4G network build-out timing, the majority answered between 2012 and 2014, a timeframe when an IMT-Advanced definition of 4G seems likely,” said Stéphane Téral, Infonetics Research’s principal analyst for mobile and FMC infrastructure and co-author of the report.

“Backhaul is the top-rated 4G challenge for carriers planning an upgrade to 4G,” added Richard Webb, directing analyst for WiMAX, microwave, and mobile devices.

MORE INFORMATION

Log on or join: http://www.infonetics.com/login

From the portal, go to RESEARCH, then, MOBILE AND WIRELESS.

SALES

• Larry Howard, Vice President: larry@infonetics.com, +1 (408) 583-3335.
• Scott Coyne, Senior Account Director, Eastern North America, Europe, Middle East: scott@infonetics.com, +1 (408) 583-3395.

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Infonetics Research (www.infonetics.com) is an international market research and consulting firm serving the communications industry since 1990. A leader in defining and tracking emerging and established technologies in all world regions, Infonetics helps clients plan, strategize, and compete more effectively.

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