US Mobile Market Update – Q2 2020

Summary of US Mobile Market Q2 2020

The US Wireless Market is adjusting to the consolidation to three equal competitors for the first time. WFH over the last 6 months have created an opportunity for fixed wireless due to enterprization of the home with families struggling to split the home network connection between school and corporate workloads. It is giving rise to new products that can provide resiliency, consistency, and security. Enterprises are also rethinking their campus connectivity plans. The networks have adjusted to the change in consumer and enterprise behavioral change. However, the industry has started to rethink the network architecture. When we are past the pandemic (late 2021/2022), some of the pandemic-induced behavioral changes are likely to stay. Reliance on fixed and mobile networks will only increase. So would ecommerce, video conferencing, WFH, online classes, and more. In fact, we were forced into some of the experiences like Zooming all day or using laptop cameras both of which are not suited for the purpose.

Earlier this month, Verizon made a bid for Tracfone to boost its prepaid business. We are seeing the continuation of “rule of 3” play out and market settling in with three dominant players with cable providers nibbling at the edges. This new dynamic will define how 5G networks get rolled out, new applications and services get built in the coming years.

The number of 5G subs doubled but the levels are still anemic. In China, 5G subs are multiplying like gremlins while in Korea 4G data traffic is already in decline due to 5G traffic growth. Churn is still at the lowest levels awaiting the iPhone moment of the year.

Topics covered in the research update

  • Q2 2020 US Mobile Market Highlights
  • Covid Impact on Networks
  • Covid Impact and Implications
  • Acceleration of Connected Intelligence
  • Restructured US Wireless Market – What’s Ahead?
  • The Race to the 5G icon – A Status Update
  • 5G Race Update
  • 5G – Known Knowns and Known Unknowns
  • What to Expect in the Coming Months?
  • US Wireless Market Q2 2020 Analysis
    • Service Revenues
    • ARPU
    • Subscribers
    • 5G Progress
    • 4th Wave Progress
    • Connected Devices
    • Handsets

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