The latest quarterly update from ABI Research indicates that the mobile infrastructure radio access network (RAN) revenue grew 17.4 percent sequentially in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2012 to reach almost $8.5 billion. However, it is 2.5 percent lower than the same quarter a year ago.
ABI Research’s study shows that for the whole year, Ericsson and Huawei were closely matched in RAN market share with about 24 percent each. This was followed by Nokia Siemens Networks, Alcatel-Lucent, ZTE, Samsung and NEC.
In a statement, ABI’s principal analyst Nick Marshall, said, “In the fourth quarter of 2012 Ericsson picked up three points of market share, followed by Samsung and Nokia Siemens Networks. These gains came at the expense of Huawei which lost almost five points of share in the quarter.”
As per the ABI report, Nokia Siemens Networks jumped to second-highest spot in the RAN market share after No. 1 ranked Ericsson in Q412, Huawei ranked third and Alcatel-Lucent was fourth in the quarter.
However, looking at the entire year, the RAN market has declined in 2012, although the fourth quarter was up. ABI study finds that the RAN market in 2012 was down by 10 percent. Plus, in comparison to 2011, the study shows that Huawei and Samsung each gained almost three points of share and Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson each lost share.
In terms of rankings for the year, the ABI Research study places Ericsson and Huawei jointly in the No. 1 position followed by Nokia Siemens Networks unchanged in third, Alcatel-Lucent unchanged in fourth and ZTE in fifth.
According to ABI Research, its quarterly market data report tracks base station deployments by technology, region and country. The data also includes forecasts for new deployments, upgrades and replacements annually through 2018, as well as operator base station spend estimates.
Edited by
Rachel Ramsey