According to research commissioned by Amdocs (NASDAQ:DOX), service providers are shifting away from "best-effort" to carrier-grade WiFi networks to improve capacity and quality for "everywhere" content and to support new revenue streams.
Other findings indicate:
- Carrier-grade WiFi hotspots will grow from 14% today to 72% of overall WiFi hotspots by 2018.
- By 2016, 77% of service providers plan to use "homespots" (where the user agrees to leave the hotspot open for use by passers-by), growing from 30% today.
- 85% of operators plan to invest in carrier-grade WiFi by 2016. MSOs see carrier-grade Wi-Fi providing better positioning in mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) deals, supporting quad-play offerings and wireless services.
- By the end of 2016, 61% of MSOs' WiFi hotspots will be sourced from third parties, up from 45% today.
- 65% of respondents placed the lack of strong network planning and management tools in their top three risk factors for investing in carrier-grade WiFi, with 65% stating that their existing tools will not extend well to WiFi without additional investment.