LONDON, April 16 /PRNewswire/ --

Mobile operators are expected to fully maximise their high-speed packet
access (HSPA) deployments before eventually deploying 3G long-term evolution
(LTE). Many operators will leapfrog from HSPA to 3G LTE, as the window of
opportunity for HSPA Evolved is insignificant when compared to 3G LTE.

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New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.wireless.frost.com),
European Mobile Broadband (EuMoBro) Melee between 3G LTE and Mobile WiMAX,
finds that by 2013, there will be around 22.4 million 3G LTE subscribers with
service revenues totalling to euro 9,685.4 million in Western Europe. Both
Mobile WiMAX and 3G LTE technologies are covered in this research.

Over the past year, mobile data usage has skyrocketed - six to fourteen
times more data is being used on mobile broadband networks today than in the
previous year. This is being driven by flat rate pricing and high-speed
mobile broadband availability (HSDPA/HSPA). Average users download more than
5GB per month, some as much as 9GB to 11GB.

Though data traffic is on the rise, revenues are unfortunately flat.
Operators are witnessing divergence of revenues and traffic load curves for
the first time due to the new data loads and flat rate price models. Hence,
network cost has to decline and there is a strong focus in the 3G LTE camp on
margin and production cost.

"Next generation wireless technologies such as 3G LTE and Mobile WiMAX
will eventually lead operators to move to an 'open' access, any client device
connected, Internet model, with the advent of consumer electronic devices
being embedded with 3G LTE technology," notes Frost & Sullivan Programme
Manager, Luke Thomas. "This in turn will lead to higher service stickiness
and reduced churn."

However, operators will need to do away with locking-in client devices to
their respective mobile broadband access networks. More
smartphones/UMPCs/laptops/consumer electronic devices connected to such
high-speed networks will lead to incremental revenues for mobile operators.

"If a mobile operator has decided to deploy 3G LTE by 2010/2011, it
should immediately start upgrading its backhaul as each LTE base station
would require a minimum of 200-300Mbps backhaul capacity," advises Thomas.

Mobile operators are currently considering high-capacity point-to-point
microwave links and relay for backhaul. However, some are considering
minimising additional CAPEX on the backhaul by subsidising 3G LTE-enabled
femtocells, thereby making their mobile subscribers pay for the backhaul. The
deployment of femtocells, however, would require careful network planning to
avoid any interference levels between the macrocell and femtocell.

"Rather than providing flat-fee unlimited contracts or traffic caps for
3G LTE and Mobile WiMAX, operators need to be more innovative with their
pricing strategies so as to differentiate themselves from competition but, at
the same time, ensure that it is not too complicated or non-transparent for
the user to understand," remarks Thomas. "Furthermore, operators need to put
in place effective management tools to manage traffic using QoS policies,
prioritised access and flow based processing."

Such active traffic management will ensure that operators do not tarnish
their brand image by levying huge charges for high-speed mobile broadband
access.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides a brief
synopsis of the research and a table of contents, then send an e-mail to
Joanna Lewandowska, Corporate Communications, at joanna.lewandowska@frost.com
, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail
address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above
information, a brief brochure will be sent to you by e-mail.

European Mobile Broadband (EuMoBro) Melee between 3G LTE and Mobile WiMAX
is part of the Mobile & Wireless Growth Partnership Services programme, which
also includes research in the following markets: European Mobile Messaging
Markets, European Mobile Premium Content Markets, European Femtocells Markets
and Social Network Analysis- Looking Inside Mobile Communities Sustainability
in Telecoms. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market
opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following
extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are
available.

About Frost & Sullivan

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accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation
and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and
the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to
drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth
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please visit http://www.frost.com.

GIL 2009: Europe

Frost & Sullivan has expanded its flagship Global Congress on Corporate
Growth - GIL Global - into several major cities around the world including
London. For the first time ever in Europe, Frost & Sullivan will be hosting
the Growth, Innovation and Leadership Congress 'GIL 2009: Europe' on 19-20
May, at the Sofitel St James in London. GIL Global is the industry's only
event designed to support senior executives in their efforts to achieve
sustainable, top-line growth. To register, obtain a programme agenda, explore
sponsorship opportunities, or attend as a member of the media for GIL 2009:
Europe, please contact Joanna Lewandowska, Corporate Communications for Frost
& Sullivan in Europe, at Joanna.lewandowska@frost.com. One-on-One interviews
with Frost & Sullivan senior growth consultants are also being scheduled. For
more information you can also visit www.frost.com/gilglobal.

European Mobile Broadband (EuMoBro) Melee between 3G LTE and Mobile WiMAX

M2E2

Contact:
    Joanna Lewandowska
    Corporate Communications - Europe
    P: +48-22-390-41-46
    E: joanna.lewandowska@frost.com



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