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Mobile Broadband in Canada
2008 Market Report from LYA
The introduction to Canada by Rogers of the much-awaited iPhone in its new, enhanced 3G version was soon followed by the Samsung Instinct and the BlackBerry Bold, with the BlackBerry Storm, Nokia 5800 and a range of Android OS handsets set to make their appearance through 2009. These powerhouse devices form the front line of the battle for the mobile Internet, enabling consumers and businesses to experiment with on-demand mobile broadband. Mobile data revenues reported by some Canadian carriers have been rising rapidly, indicating that a significant and increasing portion of Canadian consumers benefit from mobile data services.
Canada is on the edge of a new revolution in mobile services. On the demand side, there is the growing interest in, penetration of and usage of broadband services by mobile users. On the supply side, the incumbent mobile carriers have been deploying their 3G networks for the last few years, introducing leading edge handsets, smartphones and PDAs, and planning their migration to 4G, when eventually a single technology platform will likely transform the supply landscape. At the same time, following the completion of the AWS auction, we are likely to see an increase in the number of mobile networks in Canada, in spite of the effect of the financial crisis.
LYA has conducted extensive research into the mobile broadband market in Canada. This Report builds on research and forecasting of the mobile handset base in Canada assessing technology platforms and feature sets for close to 2 years coupled with research on pricing and primary research on 3 separate occasions over the least few months among Canadian consumers across the country.
This LYA Report is a “MUST HAVE” for telcos, mobile service providers, broadcasters, content providers, equipment suppliers as well as investors, regulators and policy makers. The report will provide you with insight to assess the following issues, among many others:
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What are the current capabilities of handsets offered by all mobile carriers and when can we expect that the vast majority of mobile users will be able to surf the Internet on 3G or better networks?
- Of all mobile subscribers polled by LYA, close to 20% identified that they pay for data services as part of their mobile service – but how does this play out among demographic groups and in different parts of Canada, and how does age group or region indicate future development?
- Which mobile broadband applications are the most popular, with whom, and where throughout the country? What implications do these preferences convey to players in the telecom industry, to the incumbents, as well as to the new AWS licensees with both national and regional footprints?
- What part do contracts play in adoption of mobile broadband devices and services? How much are Canadian consumers willing to pay for mobile broadband? Is it higher or lower than what they are paying now?
- How many 3G iPhones could Rogers expect to sell over the coming months and apart from upgrading their own customers, how are other Canadian carriers at risk of losing subscribers who want an iPhone?
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