LONDON-During the next five years, cellular base station deployment in Europe is expected to more than double, according to a report released by the Strategis Group.
The report, “Strategis databank: European Cellular Network Infrastructure,” shows that deployment will grow from approximately 210,000 base stations in mid-1999 to more than 500,000 in 2005.
While Germany maintains one of the highest measures of base station density in terms of square kilometers, the Netherlands and Belgium will lead other European markets during the forecast period with more than 45 base stations per 1,000 square kilometers.
Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, France and Spain are expected to account for nearly 60 percent of the European base station rollouts in 2005.
“1998 and 1999 were both exceptional years for the European cellular market, as both numbers of subscribers and minutes of use rose to unanticipated levels,” said Jake Saunders, regional director of the Strategis Group Europe. “The net result has been an explosion in the rate of base station deployment, as operators scramble to improve both population and territorial coverage, as well as achieve a lead position in the now fiercely competitive European market.”
