Broadband to account for over half mobile capex in 2010

The GSM Association expects mobile operators around the world will invest up to USD 72 billion in mobile broadband technologies in 2010. The operator capex data, compiled by Deutsche Bank, cover technologies including HSPA/HSPA+, WCDMA and EVDO/CDMA. Asia Pacific will see the greatest investment in mobile broadband with predicted capital expenditure of up to USD 34 billion. North America follows with up to USD 19 billion, and Europe is expected to invest up to USD 14 billion. Mobile broadband will account for an estimated 52 percent of all operator investment in mobile infrastructure globally. Of all the regions, North America will spend the greatest percentage, 80 percent, of its total mobile capex on mobile broadband. According to research firm Wireless Intelligence, the growth of HSPA is predicted to increase from an average of around 9 million connections per month at the end of 2009, to almost 13 million per month. Of the total estimated 342 million connections at the end of 2010, Europe will lead the way with 120 million, followed by Asia Pacific with 116 million and North America 58 million. There are currently 200 million HSPA connections worldwide, with more than 1,800 HSPA enabled devices available from more than 150 suppliers. Across 123 countries, there are currently 294 commercially live networks, of which 183 currently deliver peak data rates of above 3.6 Mbps, and 37 commercially live HSPA+ networks, each capable of delivering data speeds up to 21 Mbps.