Carriers anxiously await
Wireless providers could see traffic boost with Apple’s 4G device
Consumers hungering for faster downloads and crisper videos aren’t the only ones excited over the prospect of a new Apple ipad that can operate on a high-speed 4G LTE network.
Wireless data traffic carriers in Canada who have recently rolled out long-term evolution networks could see a boost in data traffic if Apple unveils its first 4G device as expected Wednesday, said telecommunications consultant Eamon Hoey.
He cited a “phenomenal potential payback” for Canadian telecoms BCE, Telus and Rogers on their investments to upgrade portions of their networks to fourth-generation technology.
Samsung and Motorola Mobility already offer Lte-capable tablets and the addition of a first Apple LTE handset “would help popularize the LTE networks,” Hoey said. He added that the carriers have consistently underestimated business and consumer demand for high speed data services.
And while consumers may balk at the extra cost of 4G LTE data plans and some may stay with the Wi-fi only ipad, analysts said businesses increasingly see value in equipping staff with the most capable mobile technology.
A spokeswoman for Vancouverbased Telus, whose LTE service went live last month, said it is too early to gauge the impact of new LTE devices on revenue.
She said Telus, which sells iphones and ipad SIM cards, or portable memory chips, has seen strong growth in data traffic and is work- ing to stay ahead of the demand curve.
Apple is expected to unveil a new ipad at a media event in San Francisco that will be “critical” to the Cupertino, Calif.-based company if it is to maintain its dominance in the global tablet market, Frost & Sullivan analyst Phil Harpur said in a note to investors.
“A lot will depend how receptive the market is to the new features offered by ipad 3, two of which are believed to be quad-core processing and 4G-LTE capabilities,” he said. “While ipad 2 offered only minor incremental upgrades, this time the market will be expecting a lot more.” Apple has not revealed what it will announce but an upgrade called the ipad 3, or ipad HD, with pricing equivalent to the ipad 2, is widely expected. A U.S. launch of the device is seen on March 16 with international rollouts likely to follow within two weeks. The device may feature a 9.7-inch “Retina” HD display, be thicker than the ipad 2, have a longer battery life and an improved camera. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said in addition to the ipad upgrade Apple may unveil a refreshed Apple TV, the wireless digital box that allows users to stream shows and movies on their HD monitors. The Apple TV 3 is expected to have a faster processor that can display full high definition content in 1080p, as opposed to 720p on the existing model. And Misek said there is a distant possibility Apple could unveil its long rumoured “ITV,” a voice-controlled, integrated TV set — even though it has not finished the product.