Spurred by the growing complexity and number of wireless devices, the market for communications test equipment is expected to prosper over the next five years. According to research firm Frost & Sullivan, wireless carriers are seeking out more efficient test methods to handle mobile data and rapidly changing wireless standards.
The market for communications test equipment is expected to reach $16.2 billion by 2021, the report says. Within the next five years, Frost & Sullivan notes that machine-to-machine data usage will exceed that of social networking. That change will occur as the number of connected devices and sensors on the market swells to over 50 billion.
The communications test market will also profit from 5G technology. 5G networks are being developed, in part, to account for huge amounts of data traffic stemming from the Internet of Things. When these networks are introduced to the commercial market (predicted to be around 2020), wireless operators will have to use advanced monitoring tools to ensure network reliability.
Mobile users have come to expect applications that work seamlessly with 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. For that reason, testing solutions will have to keep pace with upgrades to consumer devices, networks, and wireless standards. Frost & Sullivan emphasized that service providers have a strong incentive to spend on testing equipment, as it ensures a positive experience for end-users.