What is the potential of broadband connectivity on mobile devices?

In a press release (Sept. 2007), Ericsson expects by 2012 1.2 billion mobile broadband users. According to this press release the next wave of broadband infrastructure would position telecom operators for "two-way communications service that offers seamless media interactivity, communication, convenience, entertainment and personalization."

Nortel explains in a online white paper about pervasive mobile broadband that: "We are entering a new era of hyper-connectivity that goes well beyond the concept of every person being connected to a network. This new era is about every device being connected, ranging from your automobile to home appliances to environmental control systems and medical information."

Nortel indicates two technologies:

• Wimax
• Municipal Wireless

Note that besides bandwidth, multi-media also needs some degree of quality of service (QoS).

A nice overview of the bandwidth development for mobile communications can seen in the following diagram obtained from ITU Report 2004