The future of broadband
This article will examine the broadband trends that could potentially knock ADSL broadband from its dominant position in the broadband market.
Potential threats to ADSL broadband:
Mobile broadband: Could overtake home broadband by 2010
At Top 10 Broadband, mobile broadband is the development we see as the greatest threat to traditional ADSL broadband. With sales figures doubling month on month, mobile broadband looks set to overtake home broadband by 2010.
A series of price drops and changes to the use of the mobile phone spectrum lead us to preduct that mobile broadband will be offered with mobile phone packages by as soon as 2009.
Greater flexibility and lower costs are two aspects that we think will drive this revolution. Customers sick of paying costly landline charges for a line they rarely use and want a solution for out of home use that gives them the greater flexibility they need.
Technology improvements in this sector are also driving this thriving market and making the chunky mobile broadband dongle a thing of the past and the sleek, slim and fast mobile broadband stick the must have accessory for any respectable laptop.
Currently there are four mobile phone operators offering mobile broadband (Vodafone, 3, Orange, T-Mobile and O2) though Virgin Mobile are soon to enter the mix with competitive and original mobile broadband packages.
Cable broadband: Faster speeds could push cable broadband into the lead
The edge that cable broadband has over ADSL broadband is obvious in terms of the superior speeds that it can offer. At present Virgin Media have a monopoly on the broadband market, how long this monopoly is likely to last will depend on a number of factors.
BT are considering replacing it's copper wires with fibre-optic cables with a view to chasing the high-speed broadband market. The cost that such a project would incur means that this remains an idea.
WiMAX broadband: Could be pipped at the post
WiMAX, a technology that offers high-speed broadband via radio waves is another contender to replace ADSL broadband according to research by Juniper Research. Considering the ubiquity of radio coverage in both urban and regional areas of the UK, this prospect could be one to look out for.
Unfortunately for WiMAX it is about 4 years too late, as mobile broadband has taken a stronghold on the roaming/wireless market. This head start may well proove impossible to overcome for latecomer WiMAX.
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