4G LTE device shipment in India grew by 80pc in 2017

CMR India has released its 4G LTE Devices India Market Review Report 2017. According to the report, the 4G LTE shipments in India grew at 80 percent in 2017 year-on-year with total shipments reaching 148.3 million units.

As per the report, 99 percent of the shipments in 2017 were 4G LTE enabled data cards. The 4G LTE enabled mobile handset shipments accounted for 47 percent of the total mobile handset shipments where 4G LTE tablets contributed 39 percent of the total tablet shipments in India.

The report also stated, Samsung led in the 4G LTE mobile handsets with 21 percent market share, while Lenovo dominated the 4G LTE tablet market with 41 percent market share. LYF is the only Indian brand in the leaderboard shipping 4G LTE mobile handsets.

Prabhu Ram, Head – Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR said, “In 2017, Chinese brands grew aggressively with 143 percent sequential growth, thereby, contributing to 1 in every 2 4G LTE device shipped in India. The Chinese success story in India can be traced to their keen and clear understanding of the needs of the discerning Indian customers, and offering them, with the latest specs at affordable price points.”

Prabhu added, "Amongst Indian brands, only LYF was in the top three contributing 14 percent of the 4G LTE mobile handset devices in India. Alongside, Reliance Jio’s JioFi devices shook the 4G data card market in CY2017, contributing to the extraordinary availability of LTE. On the back of Reliance Jio, 4G in India will continue to grow in an upward trajectory, with India becoming a fully-developed 4G nation this year.”

"CY2018 will further see 4G technology adoption continuing to gain traction in India driven by adoption of 4G smartphones," said Narinder Kumar, Lead Analyst, CMR.