Mobile Broadband Grows, Both to Support Mobile Devices and Home Access

Parks Associates forecasts more than 68 million of the 126 million tablets sold worldwide in 2015 will have 3G or greater technology.

The research firm predicts that 29 percent of the 16.5 million tablets sold in 2010 featured embedded 3G technology, while tablets with 3G or 4G technology will account for over half of all tablets sold in 2015.

At the same time, it appears that more consumers are using wireless as an at-home access technology as well. Possibly 16 percent of U.S. respondents to a Parks Associates survey suggested they presently use mobile broadband. That doesn't necessarily mean those consumers are substituting mobile for fixed access, though that certainly will be the case in some instances.

It does indicate that mobile access is becoming much more pervasive.