According to PwC, India is expected to have 10-15 million 4G LTE subscribers by the end of next year with more operators expected to launch their 4G services and with the influx of affordable smartphones catalyzing the take up of 4G services. At the same time, rollout of 4G LTE on a more efficient 1,800 MHz spectrum is expected to push towards more competitive mobile data pricing, hence making the high-speed service more accessible to a wider subscriber base.
The anticipated entry of Reliance Jio Infocomm into the 4G space via the launch of its 4G services on both TD-LTE and FD-LTE early next year is expected to further boost 4G penetration in the country, complementing the current coverage provided by Bharti Airtel and Aircel. Bharti Airtel is also likely to launch 4G on FD-LTE next year, while Uninor, a subsidiary of Telenor, has announced that it would start trials on the narrow-band LTE for the 4G service in response to limited availability of spectrum.
PwC's report also discussed the state of public Wi-Fi in the country, stating that the Government’s Digital India and ‘Smart Cities’ initiatives will drive the number of Wi-fi hotspots throughout the second most populous country in the world.
In addition to this, PwC said in its report that the Indian consumers are also adapting fast to the developments in the wearables space. According to the report, fitness monitors, smart watches and internet-enabled eyeglasses have scored high percentages in terms of interest, with the scores of 80%, 76% and 74% respectively.
As to mobile devices, prices are expected to go down further, said PwC with the Chinese and local manufacturers providing cheaper basic smartphones for the cost-conscious Indian consumers.
