According to data from ABI Research (News - Alert), the ever-increasing use of mobile broadband services by handsets, laptops, MIDs, and mobile CE devices will place demands on 3G networks.

 

As a result, 4G networks will ultimately be required because people use devices wherever they are, the market research firm says, and mobile operators’ spending on 4G base station gateways and FMC-related carrier equipment will approach $850 million in 2013.

 

Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) is one way by which mobile operators can reduce the stress on network capacity. Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) routes traffic through customers’ wired broadband connections when they are at home.

 

The $850 million capital expenditures is expected to be spread between FMC platforms, 4G base stations, and the 4G gateways that aggregate their traffic.

 

ABI Principal Analyst Philip Solis said that FMC is not just about relieving networks’ voice traffic congestion, but data too. 3G handsets with Wi-Fi, laptops that often feature cellular connections, the new class of Mobile Internet Devices, and other mobile broadband-enabled consumer electronic products – all add to network load, Solis said. He said that operators’ need for FMC and 4G equipment to meet that extra demand creates real opportunities for vendors.

 

ABI Research’s report, “Mobile Broadband Needs FMC and 4G,” says that all these factors mean necessary changes to the mobile network landscape. FMC needs a well-integrated network that incorporates unified cross-platform applications. The research firm expects that as femto-cells are gradually introduced, they will up the ante as well. Ultimately they will become embedded as a function in several premises equipment, from DSL gateways to set-top boxes, the firm says.

 

ABI’s newest Brief examines mobile device growth and the two solutions that are required – fixed-mobile convergence and the use of 4G networks. The Brief assesses the importance of each and discusses the revenue opportunity that will come from convergence gateways, ASN gateways for mobile WiMAX, and SAE gateways for LTE (News - Alert).