The U.S. mobile broadband market will more than quadruple by 2014, predicts IDC. The research firm estimates there will be 30.2 million subscribers in 2014 compared to just 6.5 million subscribers in 2009.
"Mobile broadband is growing in importance for both consumers adopting the service and the operators offering connectivity," said IDC Mobility Service Program Manager Carrie MacGillivray in a report. "Diversity in pricing plans, new computing devices capable of mobile broadband connections, and the promise of a 4G world with faster speeds are a tempting proposition for customers looking to be ubiquitously connected regardless of location, anytime."
The research firm said the evolving landscape of new, wirelessly connected devices like the Apple iPad and the large-scale deployment of 4G services will spur adoption of mobile broadband in both the consumer and enterprise space.
Verizon Wireless plans to deploy its LTE network in 25 to 30 markets by the end of the year to cover about 100 million people. Clearwire's WiMAX network currently covers 34 million people in 27 markets, and the company plans to expand its network to cover 120 million people by the end of this year.
AT&T said in February it would conduct LTE field trials later this year, with commercial deployment scheduled to begin in 2011.