With mobile operators feeling the squeeze with spectrum and data capacity,
they are looking at alternative options to relieve some of the
smartphone-related demand and congestion in networks. Wi-Fi, a much loathed
technology by mobile operators a few years back, is making a comeback as an
offload mechanism for mobile networks. Wi-Fi is embedded in 99% of the
smartphones today and with smartphone Wi-Fi usage climbing, W-Fi in mobile
networks has become hot. Industry bodies like the Wi-Fi Alliance and the
Wireless Broadband Alliance are pushing for standard specifications like
Hotspot 2.0, which would make Wi-Fi connectivity more seamless and easy to
use. The vendor market place is getting interesting as well, with both
traditional Wi-Fi vendors and non-traditional ones. Wi-Fi hotspot providers
and cable operators with a Wi-Fi footprint are also aligning themselves around
this opportunity. It remains to be seen who will win in this market and who
might get acquired with ample opportunities at hand. This report examines the
commercial and technical aspects of carrier offload, with an emphasis on
carrier Wi-Fi. The report profiles 24 of the leading vendors, network
operators, and technology providers in the carrier Wi-Fi ecosystem.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. SUMMARY
2.1. Carrier Wi-Fi
2.2. Challenges
2.3. Market Forecasts
2.4. Vendor Market Share
2.5. Recommendations
2.5.1. Recommendations for Mobile Operators
2.5.2. Recommendations for Wi-Fi Network Providers
2.5.3. Recommendations for OEMs
2.5.4. Recommendations for Technology/Solutions Providers
3. INTRODUCTION, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND METHODOLOGY
3.1. Introduction
3.1.1. Definitions
3.1.2. Explosion in Mobile Data
3.1.3. Mobile Data Growth Drivers
3.1.4. Global Mobile Data Traffic, 2012 to 2017
3.1.5. Mobile Data Is a Problem
3.1.6. Indoor Usage
3.1.7. More Spectrum?
3.1.8. What About 4G and 5G?
3.1.9. How Operators Are Responding
3.2. Recommendations
3.2.1. Recommendations for Mobile Operators
3.2.2. Recommendations for Wi-Fi Network Providers
3.2.3. Recommendations for OEMs
3.2.4. Recommendations for Technology/Solutions Providers
4. MARKET ISSUES
4.1. Cost and Effort of Integrating Wi-Fi into Mobile Networks
4.2. Client, OS, and Device-side Issues
4.3. How Important Is Policy Integration to Carrier Wi-Fi?
4.4. How Do We Solve the Highly Segregated Nature of Wi-Fi Access
Infrastructure?
4.5. What Business Models Can We Expect around Carrier Wi-Fi?
4.6. Does LTE Stop Carrier Wi-Fi Momentum?
5. MARKET FORECASTS
5.1. Forecast Methodology
5.2. Carrier Wi-Fi Access Points
5.2.1. Hotspot Type by Region and Indoor Versus Outdoor Carrier Wi-Fi
Access Points