The macro-environment saw a rollercoaster ride in 2022, one where our Counterpoint Macro Index dropped from 106.17 to 82.88 between January and November. Several factors contributed to the decline, such as the war in Ukraine, high inflation, the possibility of a global economic recession, and China’s strict COVID-Zero policies.

Besides, interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve not only slowed economic growth but also strengthened the US dollar, the effects of which were particularly painful in emerging markets. Technology firms that were previously thriving had to resort to mass layoffs, spending cuts and downward earnings guidance in preparation for a bleak economic outlook.

Moving into 2023, which of those macro risks will remain, and which new risks should the tech firms watch out for? Counterpoint Research analysts have voted on the top 10 macro risks that companies should pay close attention to.

In the latest episode of The Counterpoint Podcast, host Matt Orf is joined by Senior Analyst Yang Wang, based in Europe, and Research Analyst Archie Zhang, based in China. We bring on-the-ground and unique insights into the macro risks that cannot be ignored. The topics discussed in the podcast range from economic issues such as energy crisis and a potential global economic recession to geopolitical and political issues such as the US-China showdown and developments in US domestic politics.

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When we formed Counterpoint a decade ago, our passion and mission were to provide the best, in-depth insights, data, and advisory services for the technology industry. We considered mobile connectivity and devices to be pivotal to the massive digital transformation underway. We wanted to help companies make better and more informed decisions to enable them to offer the best experiences to billions of users.

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary and reflect on engagements with hundreds of companies from among the largest to start-ups, we believe we should also play our part in giving back to society by helping to connect those who are not yet connected to the internet and to help them transform their lives.

Our analysts are in a great position to utilize our diverse geographic footprint, knowledge, and excellent networks to create awareness, influence the industry, and volunteer to support underserved populations, such as children, women, and the displaced or otherwise overlooked communities, in getting internet connectivity. Data connectivity can unlock access to education, employment, healthcare, real-time communication, financial services, and more.

As a first step towards this goal, we are excited to partner with Unconnected.org, a UK-based non-profit founded in 2019 by tech industry veterans with a vision and goal to connect an additional 100 million people to the internet. We aim to closely work with Unconnected.org and NGOs on different projects around the world to spread awareness, volunteer, and attract donors.

In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Jan Stryjak is joined by our VP of Research, Neil Shah, and Unconnected.org Chief Commercial Officer Mea Thompson. The discussion throws some light on why this is important, what Unconnected.org is doing, and how our partnership can help connect the unconnected!

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The COVID-19-led semiconductor shortage disrupted the supply chains of several industries. The shortage also accelerated lead times for key components such as chipsets, DDIs & PMICs that power all electronics around us. While the auto sector was heavily affected, telecom operators were also struck due to the lack of physical SIM cards as SIM plants shifted their production to higher-value technologies.

With no significant CapEx investment in mature nodes, SIM shortage means telcos cannot activate new subscriptions, potentially losing customers and market share. And while mobile network operators have been resistant to moving to eSIM, the eSIM is still gathering pace. Premium flagship smartphones from Samsung and Apple come with one physical SIM slot and one eSIM. Even the latest iPhone 14 series in the US ditches the physical SIM slot altogether and comes with eSIM-only capabilities.

With component shortages expected to continue until 2023, how do the mobile network operators reorganize their supply chain and forecast SIM needs in advance? We discuss all this and more in the podcast.

In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Peter Richardson is joined by Counterpoint’s Senior Analyst William Li, and Olivier Leroux, President and Founder of Oasis Smart-SIM to talk about how the telecom industry is dealing with disruptions due to semiconductor shortage. We also discuss the real impact of SIM shortage and the development of eSIM to mitigate some of these issues.

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Southeast Asia, one of the world’s most promising markets, saw its smartphone shipments decline in Q2 2022. But despite this, Thailand’s premium smartphone market grew 22% YoY, confirming a key trend in the overall Southeast Asian market. Other key trends in the region include the growth of gaming and 5G smartphones.    

Rising inflation and reduced consumer spending are resulting in a lengthening smartphone replacement cycle. So, how are OEMs navigating this trend with different financial schemes, easy upgrades, cashbacks and more? 5G smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia markets are also growing, so how are operators geared up for rolling out 5G services and demonstrating their use cases?   

In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Tarun Pathak is joined by Senior Analysts Febriman Abdillah and Glen Cardoza to discuss the key trends in the Southeast Asia smartphone market. From falling shipments to H2 2022 outlook, 5G and online vs offline, we discuss all this and more in the podcast.  

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The global semiconductor components shortage has been in the news since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade tensions between the US and China further upset the normal supply situation and the automotive sector was among the high-profile casualties. Chip manufacturers addressed the supply-demand issue by increasing capacity.

Then, there is the Russia-Ukraine conflict which has added further uncertainties with respect to some raw materials that are required for semiconductor manufacturing. The geopolitical issues are also creating macroeconomic headwinds, leading to a drop in overall demand. Will an increase in capacity lead to an oversupply situation?

In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Peter Richardson is joined by Research Director Dale Gai, and Senior Analyst Ashwath Rao to talk about the foundry market update. In this discussion, we talk about the foundry inventory correction cycle, the role of wafer fab equipment makers in the supply chain, the future of process node and packaging technologies, and much more.

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The consumer demand for high-speed home broadband continues to grow at a rapid pace as companies adopt the hybrid working culture. Even personal content consumption has increased, be it for music and video streaming, gaming or other applications. And as billions of consumers across the globe continue to wait for reliable home broadband, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in conjunction with 5G is proving to be a great solution for last-mile connectivity.

In our previous podcast in 2020, we discussed why FWA is a killer app for 5G in helping bridge the digital divide. It’s nearly two years since, and there have been some developments with increased FWA deployments. From factors driving the growth of FWA to prices of CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) and how the ecosystem is changing with geopolitics, we discuss all this in the podcast.    

In the latest episode of the ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Jan Stryjak is joined by Senior Analysts Tina Lu and Parv Sharma to talk about the key trends in the Fixed Wireless Access space. We have also covered the 5G vs 4G FWA subscription forecast, factors that are holding back the growth of FWA in certain regions, and more. 

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Private Networks, especially in relation to 5G, were one of the hot topics of discussion at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 22) in Barcelona earlier this year. They have been gaining momentum with deployments across different scenarios such as manufacturing and mining, and for connecting devices like smart meters and sensors. Private Networks also have several other use cases that require high-quality and secure communication environments, such as ports, logistics, and transportation to name a few.

We recently published a report on Private Networks highlighting how major vendors such as Nokia and Ericsson are now selling network equipment to enterprises and bypassing the operators. There are also new entrants, including hyper scalers offering simplified solutions and reducing entry barriers for enterprises. We have also highlighted key trends, market drivers, and challenges in the report, and have discussed some of them in this podcast.

In the latest episode of the ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Peter Richardson is joined by Research Director Gareth Owen and Research Analyst Charu Paliwal to talk about Private Networks. The discussion focuses on some of the case studies and key deployments, spectrum availability, and challenges for private 5G networks among others.

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Refurbished smartphones are cost-effective alternatives for consumers looking to save money when buying a smartphone. Apple and Samsung are the top brands in this secondary smartphone market, allowing users to purchase a flagship smartphone at a much lower cost. Shipments for the global refurbished smartphone market grew 4.5% YoY in 2021.

Volumes also witnessed 15% growth according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Refurb Smartphone Tracker. Factors such as attractive trade-in programs, consumer awareness of sustainability, and certified pre-owned smartphones have led to this growth.

In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Maurice Klaehne is joined by Research Director Jeff Fieldhackand Senior Research Analyst Glen Cardoza to discuss the refurbished smartphone market. The insightful discussion focuses on key topics highlighting the refurbished market performance in 2021, key regions contributing to the growth, and key OEMs. We also touch upon topics like geopolitics, sustainability, the right to repair movement, and much more.

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Modern cars now feature an array of advanced digital technologies such as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) that offer things like lane assist, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and more. And as things progress towards the next level of autonomous driving, the digital cockpit will play a crucial role in unlocking future connected car experiences.  Besides offering personalized experiences and seamless connectivity to drivers and passengers, a digital cockpit will also enhance driver safety.

But who are the key players in the automotive industry that are offering the technology stack to power these new experiences? What does Qualcomm’s announcement of its Digital Chassis mean for automakers? And lastly, what are EV (electric vehicle) makers doing to improve range, build more fast-charging stations, and integrate new battery chemistries?

In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Maurice Klaehne is joined by analysts Soumen Mandal and Mohit Sharma for an insightful discussion on autonomous and electric vehicles (EVs). The discussion also touches on connected cars, touchscreen infotainment systems with guided maps, ADAS and more. At the end of the podcast, Soumen and Mohit also talk about the key trends they are seeing in the automotive industry.   

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Smartphones have become a big part of our daily lives. From advanced processing power to vivid high-refresh-rate displays and stunning cameras, there is a lot that modern smartphones offer. But whether you are at home, in office, or traveling, it is the battery that decides your smartphone’s ability to communicate, complete a transaction, or click photos at any given time.

Smartphone battery technology has evolved over the years. Smartphones now pack higher capacity batteries along with faster charging speeds and more. But when choosing a smartphone, the only available battery capacity information is the mAh (or milliamp hours) number, which is not enough. So, what are the other battery parameters that one should look for when buying a new smartphone? 

In the latest episode of the ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Peter Richardson is joined by special guest Olivier Simon, DXOMARK's battery unit director. Olivier shares some insights on DXOMARK’s smartphone battery evaluation, factors that affect battery life, and more. Olivier further deep dives to explain what mAh and watt mean and how do they translate into the experience when it comes to smartphone battery life. He also has some tips for OEMs on how to design smartphones keeping the battery aspect in mind. For consumers too, he has some advice on how to buy a smartphone with a battery life that fits their needs.

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