“While many networks in US and Europe are working towards complete coverage for 3G services, some mobile operators in other regions find themselves tangled up with government bureaucracy, which impedes progress in upgrading the network technology,” comments ABI Research mobile services research practice director Neil Strother. “India has at last concluded its 3G spectrum auction after repeated delays; Thailand’s attempt to catch up with 3G licensing has once again stalled due to reorganization of the telecoms regulator.”
ABI Research estimates that nearly 82% of the population in Western Europe is currently covered by 3G networks, while only about 12% of Asia-Pacific’s population has access to 3G services. “3G coverage in the Asia-Pacific region is set to rise dramatically in the next few years as Chinese and Indian operators such as China Unicom and Bharti Airtel begin actively rolling out new data networks,” notes ABI research associate Fei Feng Seet.
Network sharing has became more common in a number of mature markets. For example, French mobile operator SFR will be sharing the rural build-out of its UMTS network with domestic rivals Orange France and Bouygues Telecom. Meanwhile, T-mobile and Orange UK have formed a new joint venture called “Everything Everywhere” in a bid to share costs and spectrum.
ABI Research’s “Wireless Spectrum, Services and Technology Deployment Market Data” provides a comprehensive source of information of all wireless network providers; their operating spectra, access technologies and key network vendors globally. Also included in the service is a summary of the major network supplier contracts awarded, by geography and network, as well as the population coverage breakdown by countries.
It is a component of the “Mobile Networks Research Service” which also includes Research Reports, Research Briefs, other Market Data products, ABI Insights, ABI Vendor Matrices, and analyst inquiry support.
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