4G devices shipments touch 2.2 mn in Jan-Mar qtr: CMR

Total LTE devices shipped to India reached 2.2 million units during the first quarter this year, with 4G smartphones accounting for 97 per cent of these shipments, research firm CyberMedia Research said.

According to CMR's India quarterly data, 4G-LTE device shipments more than doubled in the said quarter, growing 108 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 2.2 million units.

The total LTE device shipments in the country stood at 1.06 million units during October-December 2014 quarter.

"The 4G/LTE device space is getting interesting as every quarter passes. The market more than doubled quarter-on- quarter and we see this momentum continuing for at least a few more quarters," CMR Telecoms Practice Lead Analyst Faisal Kawoosa said.

Other than the need to appear distinctive in the market and move with worldwide industry trends, device vendors are also trying to create a 'cult' followership in the emerging Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technology space, he added.

"With the kind of expected paradigm shift in quality as well as types of services after RJio goes 'live', device vendors are busy showcasing their competencies in the 4G/LTE space, not only to have an early mover advantage but also to position themselves as reliable vendors in the space," he said.

Korean firm Samsung registered 27 per cent market share in terms of units shipped, displacing Apple from the top slot.

The US-based firm moved to the third spot with 15 per cent share in the said quarter, after China's Xiaomi that had 17 per cent share.

4G/LTE data cards contributed 2.64 per cent of the total devices shipped, growing 287 per cent quarter-on-quarter. The segment was led by ZTE with 77 per cent share, followed by Alcatel (17 per cent) and Huawei (5 per cent).