As mobile Internet access is becoming more popular, telecom carriers worldwide are all facing difficulties providing sufficient mobile data services to meet user demand. Solutions considered include canceling unlimited service plans, or establishing small cell base station or Wi-Fi networks to offload traffic.
Wi-Fi-based offloading needs to be integrated with carriers' existing 3G or 4G equipment, and involves purchasing enterprise-level Wi-Fi products, which is commonly known as carrier Wi-Fi, to achieve optimization.
According to Digitimes Research, over 13 Wi-Fi equipment makers to have already entered the carrier Wi-Fi market, which it has categorized into five major groups based on their experience and background.
Among the five groups, makers with emerging technologies will be weaker in terms of competitiveness, and if demand in the carrier Wi-Fi market starts to decline, these makers will be the first to face challenges.