W-CDMA remains biggest global smartphone market driver over LTE

3G air interface standard Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) continued to be the biggest driver of the mobile broadband market in the second quarter of the year, according to new research.
 
The “3G and 4G Mobile Broadband Devices and Subscribers” report by Infonetics found that demand for 3G USB broadband dongles is still healthy from enterprises in developed countries, although consumers are now looking towards embedded devices.
“Despite the noise surrounding LTE handsets, W-CDMA remained the biggest driver in the smartphone market in the second quarter in terms of shipments and revenue, though W-CDMA revenue was down slightly sequentially as a result of declining ARPU,” said Richard Webb, Infonetics Research’s directing analyst for microwave and carrier Wi-Fi.
 
“Lower-cost, entry-level devices based in W-CDMA in particular are growing in popularity, driven by a determined push by Chinese OEMs keen to establish a bigger market share. Also, a bigger push from leading OEMs Apple and Samsung in China and Brazil continues to drive smartphone unit growth.”
 
Smartphone revenue is down by five percent from Q1 to €54 billion and sales of mobile broadband embedded tablets have risen by 10 percent sequentially in Q2.
 
Meanwhile, Samsung has managed to retain its lead in the smartphone revenue market, shipping 74 million units this quarter as a dip in Apple’s iPhone 5 was registered.
 
FDD-LTE devices are the second largest smartphone segment now, and are expected to overtake W-CDMA in the next few years.
 
The Infonetics report tracks over 50 mobile broadband market segments including LTE, W-CDMA/HSPA and GSM networks as well as smartphones, mobile operating systems, embedded devices and subscribers.