Small Cell Backhaul Market Set to Boom: Study

June 14, 2016

The global outdoor small cell backhaul market is forecast to reach $2.2 billion in 2020, with a five-year (2016–2020) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 80 percent, according to a study by IHS Technology.

“Network operators are currently testing and field trialing many outdoor small cell and backhaul options in dense urban areas to choose technologies, products and vendors, as well as to develop operational procedures,” wrote Richard Webb, research director, mobile backhaul and small cells, IHS Technology. “The issues of urban deployment are gradually being resolved, and more mobile operators are now starting to make their initial, albeit modest, deployments.”

Outdoor small cell deployments will ramp in 2017, with steady growth through 2020. Consequently, a cumulative $6.4 billion will be spent worldwide on outdoor small cell backhaul equipment between 2016 and 2020.