On Thursday, ABI Research reported that mobile broadband modems and hotspot router shipments fell 21% year-over-year to nearly 73 million units.
What’s driving the decline? ABI says we’re finally seeing the impact of the declining PC market.
USB modem sticks and embedded modem modules led the two-year slide while mobile hotspot routers increased 32%, according to new analysis from the market intelligence firm ABI.
As the computing marketing continues to evolve with more performance and choices than ever before, mobile broadband modems were not impervious to the transition.
“It was another distressing year for mobile broadband modems, though the worst appears to be in the past,” says senior practice director Jeff Orr at ABI Research. “USB modems will remain an important connectivity component going forward; however future volumes will increasingly be driven by embedded modem modules and mobile hotspot routers.”
Revenues associated with mobile broadband modems also fell in 2013 to $6.2 billion, down 23% from just over $8.1 billion in 2012.
Huawei continued to lead all modem vendors with nearly 61% unit share. Combined with second place ZTE, the pair shipped more than 85% of all mobile broadband modems.
