LTE to Overtake 3G by 2015: Analysys Mason

LTE will overtake 3G to become the dominant mobile connection in Developed Asia-Pacific (DVAP) in 2015, according to Analysys Mason’s recent report.

The report revealed that DVAP’s early lead in LTE adoption means that LTE’s share of connections reached 28% in 2013. The research firm expects LTE to account for 53% of connections in 2015 and 70% by 2018.

“Smartphones will grow to become the dominant mobile handset in developed APAC during 2013, accounting for 53% of handsets in use and smartphone penetration in the region to climb to 85% by 2018,” it said.

“LTE’s share of connections will increase from 28% in 2013 to reach 70% in 2018. LTE will become the dominant technology in 2015, when LTE’s share of connections will reach 53%. 3G’s share of connections is expected to decline from 65% in 2013 to 29% in 2018,” a release said.

“Growth in the number of fixed broadband connections, although evident, will slow in DVAP. FTTH/B overtook DSL to become the dominant fixed broadband technology in the region in 2011. The number of DSL connections decreased at a CAGR of 5.9% during 2009-2013, but fibre connections increased at a CAGR of 12.6% in the same period,” the statements said.

“We forecast that mobile data usage will increase six-fold during the next 5 years in DVAP, which will increase mobile data revenue and prevent overall telecoms revenue from declining in the region. Mobile handset data revenue is projected to grow from USD 67.3 bn in 2013 to reach USD 84.5 bn in 2018,” said Mason.