The answer lies in combining existing fixed broadband delivery systems with new radio-based broadband technologies that enable user speeds equal to those of ADSL, and that can be rolled out quickly and cost-efficiently. Telstra is a good example, rolling out mobile broadband access with WCDMA/HSPA to more than 98 per cent of Australians in less than 10 months.

Mobile technologies such as WCDMA are being continuously developed to provide greater speeds to more users. However, the number of subscribers is increasing quickly and Ericsson estimates that in 2012 there will be 1.2 billion mobile broadband subscriptions worldwide.

Mobile applications and devices are also evolving, with more capacity, higher processing power, and increasingly complex algorithms - all at an affordable price. By 2010, more mobile traffic will be generated by data and information-based services than by voice. International studies estimate that total mobile traffic per user per day could grow as much as 50-fold in many markets by 2020. Higher capacity and speeds are needed in the future to cope with the increasing number of subscribers and subsequent data volumes that each subscriber produces.

The ITU says a total spectrum of approximately 1300-1700MHz is required for broadband services through 2020; this means there is a need for an additional 700-1200MHz of spectrum.

Lena Beming, director of Broadband Strategic Marketing at Ericsson, says: "To enable true wide-area mobility in a cost-effective manner, it makes sense to allocate this new additional spectrum in sub-5GHz frequencies. Parts of this new spectrum are needed in lower frequencies (such as the 470-862MHz range) in order to enable cost-effective coverage and capacity in rural areas. To accommodate more densely populated areas, higher frequency bands, such as 3400-4200MHz, are required."

Once spectrum is globally harmonized, technology and standards need to be selected. Approximately 90 percent of usable mobile spectrum is allocated to FDD, yet it is advisable not to mix this spectrum with TDD technologies in the same geographic region, to avoid interference or the need for spectrum-wasting "guardbands." 

Creating and maintaining a mobile broadband mass market means full coverage everywhere. Internationally agreed standards, harmonized technology, and economies of scale are the best drivers of user value, affordability, and simplicity. GSM is a very good example of this. The 3GPP family stands for the largest share of mobile technologies today, and it is expected that HSPA will provide 70 percent of all mobile broadband subscriptions by 2011, with CDMA 2000 EV-DO on 20 percent.