March 24, 2008 -- A report from ABI Research forecasts worldwide deployment revenues from in-building wireless systems to grow from $3.8 billion in 2007 to more than $15 billion in 2013. According to the study, drivers for this tremendous growth include consumers' growing dependence on wireless voice and messaging communications, as well as an increasingly competitive mobile operator environment.
However, the firm notes that underlying all demand drivers is a fundamental connectivity issue. "The higher frequencies used by 3G technologies impose limits on wireless coverage inside buildings based on current cell site distributions," explains ABI principal analyst Dan Shey. "The business case is made for deployment of in-building wireless systems because mobile data services are capturing a greater share of subscribers' mobile services spend."
The firm maintains that every region and operator has a different set of network technologies, competitive conditions and mobile usage. The report states that, fortunately for the owners of in-building systems, which include businesses, operators and building owners, a range of solutions make in-building wireless systems economically viable. System configurations can include passive and active distributed antenna systems, multi-band repeaters and antennas, picocells, femtocells, coax, fiber and Cat 5 cabling.
However, according to ABI, the range of systems and solutions, however, creates "a very complex and competitive supplier environment" where product development, pricing and even consolidation will be the important levers for suppliers to maintain growth rates in line with system deployment growth. In-building wireless systems will also create the network conditions for additional service capabilities including public safety band coverage, alternative broadband and voice network access, and managed services, finds the report.
"In-building wireless networks will become more than simply an extension of the cellular macro network," continues Shey. "They will become the basis for delivery of a range of business services that will ultimately change how wireless telecommunications are provided indoors."
The report, "In-Building Wireless: Connecting Networks and Services," examines the critical demand drivers for in-building wireless systems. Included in the demand driver review are forecasts and estimates of the impact they will have on different systems by region. The discussion outlines the advantages and limitations of each system, and profiles the companies that are providing market-leading equipment and services.
System forecasts are provided by region and by building size for revenues, deployments, installation costs and penetration. Equipment shipment and revenue forecasts by region are also provided for five primary system components. For more information, go to www.abiresearch.com.