Samsung, Lenovo, Xiaomi top brands for 4G devices: Report

NEW DELHI: Global handset makers Samsung, Lenovo and Xiaomi were the top three

4G

LTE devices brands in India during the calendar year 2015, according to CyberMedia Research (CMR) India's annual 4G LTE devices market review. During the year the total LTE devices shipment grew as much as 17 times to touch 33 million units.

The 4G devices comprise smartphones, tablets and data cards.

Samsung leads overall as well as in the smartphones and tablet PCs with 35% and 63% marketshare respectively, according to CMR study. Lenovo and Xiaomi stood second and third with 21% and 10% marketshare respectively.

Samsung India recently said that 4G phones will drive the smartphone market in the country on the back of increasing data speed. The company launched 18 4G devices last year. Chinese smartphone maker OPPO too recently announced that it will start locally manufacturing 10 lakh-odd 4G phones a month at its upcoming Noida facility from August.

Global and Chinese brands are strongly positioned in 4G technology segment. Indian brands contribute mere 14% with Micromax being the only Indian brand in top 5.

Commenting on the findings, Faisal Kawoosa, lead analyst, CMR telecoms practice said, "We have now over 35 million users equipped with 4G-capable devices. 4G has come at a very opportune time to give impetus to the growth of devices market resulting in such high number growths."

"Contrary to

3G

evolution, the ecosystem provisioning has been much rapid and smooth in case of 4G. To make the technology successful is now the onus of the operators by alighting the networks where they have already been set up," Faisal added.

According to a recent IDC study, smartphone shipments in India crossed the 100-million mark in 2015, with 4G shipments outnumbering 3G ones for the first time ever in the fourth quarter.

4G smartphone shipments crossed 13.9 million units, accounting for more than half of the market in 2015 Q4. Samsung and Lenovo account for more than half of 4G volumes, as per IDC.