CMR India today released its Annual 4G LTE Devices India Market Review Report 2017, and in the report, the research firm stated that the 4G LTE device shipments in India grew at 80% in 2017 YoY with total shipments reaching 148.3 million. Amongst the data cards, 99% of the shipments in CY2017 were 4G LTE enabled data cards. On the other hand, 4G LTE enabled mobile handset shipments accounted for 47% of the total mobile handset shipments, while 4G LTE tablets contributed 39% of the total tablet shipments in India.
Commenting on the major trends witnessed, Prabhu Ram, Head – Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR said, “In 2017, Chinese brands grew aggressively with 143% sequential growth, thereby, contributing to 1 in every two 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.”
During the period, Samsung led the 4G LTE mobile handsets department with 21% market share, while Lenovo dominated the 4G LTE tablet market with 41% market share. Reliance Industries child brand LYF is the only Indian brand in the leaderboard shipping 4G LTE mobile handsets.
Prabhu further added, “Amongst Indian brands, only LYF was in the top three contributing 14% 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.”
With the affordable 4G data offerings from the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio, the craze for 4G LTE devices has seen a surge in the past 18 months. With this, Chinese brand Xiaomi benefitted the most, thanks to some affordable 4G LTE offerings in the form of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, Redmi 4, Redmi 4A, etc.
