ASIA Singapore : Broadband mobile standards such as wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), and CDMA2000 1x EV DO are rapidly making inroads in the Asia Pacific wireless network market, with an increasing number of mobile operators adopting these standards.

Coexistence of these standards is placing mammoth demands on measurement accuracy and versatility of test and measurement equipment, spawning test systems that can support multiple standards.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.testandmeasurement.frost.com), Asia Pacific Wireless Test Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $370.4 million in 2006 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.8 percent from 2006 to 2013.

“Promptly reacting to the demand for sophisticated test equipment from Network Service Providers and Mobile Equipment Manufacturers, wireless test equipment vendors have integrated a multitude of advanced testing techniques in a single wireless test unit enabling them to measure several parameters such as signaling conformance, interoperability with network elements, and physical layer performance. In addition to these integrations, vendors also have to focus on developing low-cost equipment,” remarks frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Arun Kumar.

3G wireless services are being rolled out in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia have moved beyond 3G and have begun the deployment of 3.5G/HSDPA services. The upgrade to 3G and 3.5 G is expected to drive the overall demand for wireless test equipment.

With the commercialization of 3G services, a steep decline in the prices of 3G/3.5 G mobile handsets is expected to happen by achieving “economies of scale.” Consequently, 3G Commercialization is expected to exert immense pressure on the test vendors to float low-cost mobile test equipment.

Test equipment manufacturers should focus on developing high-speed test environment and high performance test equipment to reduce the complexity associated with implementing new technologies and to handle the peak data rates introduced by HSDPA and HSUPA.

Since Mobile service providers have started offering voice, data, graphic, and voice-based information at a higher speed, along with Internet connectivity, market participants need to ensure that their test devices can handle higher and varied data traffic.

“In an era of converging 3G wireless and wired next-generation IP networks, ensuring quality of service (QoS) proves to be the foremost challenge for mobile service providers. This convergence is further saddling the test equipment vendors with an onus to deliver sophisticated test equipment with added functionalities,” says Arun.

Asia Pacific Wireless Test Market is part of the Test & Measurement Growth Partnership Service Program, which includes research services in the following:

• Process and Laboratory Analytical Instruments-IN0201,
• Condition Monitoring and Non-destructive Test-IN0203,
• DAQ (Data Acquisition) Equipment-IN0204,
• Mechanical Test and Visual Inspection-IN0205,
• Automotive Testing and Diagnostics-IN0206,
• Telecom and Datacom Test Equipment-IN0207,
• Fiber Optic Test Equipment-IN0208,
• Wireless Test Equipment-IN0209,
• General Purpose Test Equipment-IN0210 and
• ATE (Automatic Test Equipment)-IN0211.