Device connectivity speed: One half of an equation

37% CAGR (2011-2015)
Moving from 3G to 4G

75% CAGR (2007-2011)
Moving from 2G to 3G

35% CAGR (2011-2015)
Moving from 3G to 4G

89% CAGR (2007-2011)
Moving from 2G to 3G

38% CAGR (2011-2015)
Moving from 3G to 4G

101% CAGR (2007-2011)
Moving from 2G to 3G

40% CAGR (2011-2015)
Moving from 3G to 4G

45% CAGR (2007-2011)
Moving from 2G to 3G

Worldwide

Americas

EMEA

APAC

From the user's perspective, the mobile experience starts with the speed at which the device receives data and applications. That speed is the combined result of the speed capability of the modem technology inside the device, which is fixed, and the speed capability of the infrastructure, which can vary.

4G poised to drive the industry in 2015

Thus, wireless speed is a complicated component to measure. So complicated, in fact, that the Mobile Technologies Index breaks it into two components, each with its own metric:

Device connectivity speed (in Megabits per second per dollar (Mbps/$)
Infrastructure speed in average Megabits per second (Mbps)

This article provides our forecast for device connectivity speed, explaining the metric and how we calculate it, and explores some implications for mobile innovation.

PwC forecasts a compound annual growth rate of 37% for average aggregated device connectivity speed as measured in Mbps/$ through 2015. Put another way, average aggregated device connectivity speed will be four times greater in 2015 than in 2011.

Mobile technologies index articles

Published	Title	Article
05/09/2013	Mobile operating system: Smartphones will just get smarter	View PDF
03/05/2013	Enabling devices to offer users more natural interaction	View PDF
1/17/2013	Image sensor: Steady growth for new capabilities	View PDF
12/13/2012	Storage: Quenching the thirst for more	View PDF
11/09/2012	Memory: The ever-predictable DRAM path	View PDF
10/02/2012	Application processors: Driving the next wave of innovation	View PDF
09/12/2012	Infrastructure speed: Watch capital investment in 4G for the next inflection	View PDF
07/25/2012	Device connectivity speed: One half of an equation	View PDF
07/25/2012	Making sense of the rapid change in mobile innovation	View PDF