Mobile broadband revolution in Asia-Pacific

Mobile broadband revolution in Asia-Pacific

Mobile broadband is revolutionising broadband access across Asia-Pacific in developed and emerging markets. It is meeting pent-up broadband demand while being marketed as both a fixed line replacement, and as a personal and mobile broadband experience. Focusing on consumers and 3G-based technologies, Nathan Burley discusses the mobile broadband revolution and how operators should position their offerings.

Table of contents

Executive summary

In a nutshell
Ovum view
Messages for operators

Scope of report

Defining mobile broadband

Mobile broadband status

Mobile operators are the main game in emerging markets
Mobile broadband: a disruptive force in developed markets as well

Mobile broadband drivers and advantages

Technology advances
Laptop penetration increases rapidly
Hyper-connectivity and mobility
Mobile operators seeking more broadband exposure
Ease of prepaid
Mobile broadband is personal
Limited existing fixed infrastructure and lower wireless costs

Sizing the mobile broadband market

Ranking each market
The mobile broadband premium
Broadband speed
Data usage
Target segments

Problems with mobile broadband

Is mobile a viable technology for the mass market?
Unlimited data pricing business model is unsustainable

Case studies

M1 (Singapore): personal broadband
EMobile (Japan): aggressive broadband proposition
Indosat (Indonesia): broadband for the masses

Table of figures

Figure 1 Broadband household penetration in Asia-Pacific markets, December 2007
Table 1 The shift from shared to personal services
Figure 2 Broadband and PSTN population penetration in Asia-Pacific markets, December 2007
Figure 3 Mobile broadband potential by market
Table 2 Mobile versus fixed broadband tariff comparison
Figure 4 Estimate of proportion of DSL broadband subscribers that are connected at an advertised speed of 2Mbps or below, December 2007
Figure 5 Monthly data allowances of New Zealand broadband plans