The number of HSPA/LTE mobile broadband connectivity-enabled PC laptops in Europe is set to rise dramatically in coming years, according to a new report.

Telecom industry analyst firm Berg Insight has produced evidence that the number of such computers is set to grow from 8.4 million in 2007 to nearly 50 million (49 million) by 2013.

Berg Insight says the increase will be driven by "consumer demand for ubiquitous internet access".

It is predicted that embedded HSPA/LTE chipsets will become as standard in notebook PCs designed for the European market over the next five years.

Tobias Ryberg, senior analyst, Berg Insight, warned: "The very popularity of the service stretches the mobile network infrastructure to its utmost limit – threatening to degrade the level of service for all subscribers."

It is thought that consumers account for 80 per cent of the data volume despite of only making up 40 per cent of the subscriber base of mobile broadband.

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