Densification Tops Every Mobile Broadband Wish List and ABI Research Finds Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, and Nokia Tops in its 2015 Small Cells Competitive Assessment

​Facing mobile broadband traffic outstripping network capacity, operators look to Small Cells to densify their networks and meet customer experience expectations. The continuing acceleration of technology introduction, such LTE-LAA, VoLTE, VoWiFi, and Carrier Aggregation makes it harder than ever for operators to close the knowledge gap and plan their networks in an orderly manner.

ABI Research closes this gap with its 2015 Small Cells competitive assessment research as it brings its findings to the mobile broadband market. Indoor, outdoor, 2G, 3G, and 4G all have plays in the Small Cells competitive market. Outdoor backhaul and siting complexity pose many challenges, and some vendors are better equipped to address the myriad of complications.Outdoor real estate partnerships carry the day, though some vendors are not quite up to the task.

Indoor Small Cells face a different set of challenges with operation flexibility and unobtrusiveness high on the most desired list on this the largest market segment. Whether and how well a vendor supports 2G, 3G, or 4G is of paramount interest to the mobile broadband operator as upwards of 80% of all traffic starts or ends indoors.

“The increasing demand to densify 4G networks leads to technologies that lay the ground work for 5G and fuels the mobile network research as Small Cells are crucial for the next generation network,” says Research Analyst, Ahmed Ali. “Vendors racing to meet the industry’s expectations raise the competition bar for the Small Cells market. Smaller and more technically advanced products are in constant demand. On a solution-level, infrastructure vendors innovate with closer integration, advanced SON, and management systems for easier deployment.”

In meeting the densification needs of the Small Cells market, ABI Research finds top honors for:

Overall Leadership:Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, Nokia

Innovation Leadership:Ericsson, Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent

Implementation Leadership:Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, Nokia

These revelations are part of ABI Research’s Small CellsMarket Research.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.