2023 to Have LEO Growth, 6 GHz Outdoor Limits Lifted: ABI
Expect 1,800 to 2,400 new low earth orbit satellites to come online this year, ABI Research predicted Wednesday. It said widespread satellite-to-handset adoption isn't imminent, though this year and next will have a role in priming consumer interest, and the…
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economy will keep the smartphone market from bouncing back to its pre-COVID-19 pandemic level. ABI predicted outdoor use cases such as airfields and shipping ports will drive demand for private cellular networks, though indoor deployments will remain weaker. It said private 5G won't take off this year, as large-scale availability of Release 16-capable devices won't be available at scale until early 2024, and forecast that 4G LTE will remain the dominant cellular connectivity tech until at least 2027. This year should have widespread adoption of location-enriched mobility such as range optimization and intelligent speed assistance, ABI said. It said the industrial sector is well aware of cybersecurity threats, but cybersecurity spending will be moderate in the face of a moribund global economy. ABI said automated frequency control systems will allow lifting 6 GHz outdoor use limits starting this year, diminishing 5G's advantages over Wi-Fi in outdoor settings and giving Wi-Fi equipment vendors the confidence to incorporate standard power 6 GHz access points into their production road maps. But don't expect 6 GHz spectrum harmonization this year, it said.