According to a new research report from Berg Insight, HSPA accounted for 11.6% of the total number of broadband connections in Europe at the end of 2008. The number grew by 74% year-on-year in 2008 to reach 14.6 million and is forecasted to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% to 70 million in 2014.
As for the North American market, it has evolved at a slower pace, with mobile broadband accounting for just 4.5% of the total number of connections. However, between 2008 and 2014, this market is forecasted to grow at CAGR of 43% to reach 35 million subscribers at the end of the period.
The analyst firm further predicts that mobile broadband will become a standard feature in portable PCs which will have integrated wireless modems.
Commenting on the release, Berg Insight’s Telecom Analyst Marcus Persson said: “Tomorrow’s broadband service providers will have to offer their subscribers multiple access methods.” He went on predicting that LTE will become the technology of choice outside of the home, while bandwidth hungry services such as IPTV still require fixed broadband.