Wireless Industry in BC:
2005 BC Wireless Survey Highlights

Download complete survey in PDF format.

Revenue - Estimated at over $1 billion dollars CDN.

• The survey results total revenue of $649 M, based on 40% of companies responding and not including wireless operator revenue (Bell, Telus, Rogers).
• Revenue has increased 27% since the 2002 survey (2001 data).
• Revenue is projected to increase 46% to 2006.
• 52% indicate being cash flow positive.

Employees - Estimated at over 5500

• The survey results, based on 40% of companies responding and including wireless operator employees in BC (Bell, Telus, Rogers), total 5,153 employees.
• Employment has increased 39% since the 2002 survey (2001 data).
• Employment is projected to increase 33% to 2006.

Company Age

• 50% of companies started during the tumultuous marketing period between 1999 and 2001.
• 44% of companies incorporated prior to 1999.

Workforce

• 75% of employees have a university level degree or higher including 24% having graduate degrees.
• Companies indicate ready availability of BC based talent - 80% satisfied with capabilities of recent graduates, 89% able to find caliber of experienced hires.

Innovation, Commercialization and Markets

• BC companies occupy virtually every conceivable niche in the wireless value chain, and many are developing solutions based upon emerging and potentially revolutionary wireless technologies such as Ultrawideband, WiMAX. MIMO and RFID.
• Nearly $40M was spent on R&D in 2004 and over $65M is expected to be spent in 2006. However $118 M was sent in 2001.
• 84% of companies have reference customers, less than 16% still developing technology and looking for customers.
• BC companies sell into over 30 different vertical markets and have customers all around the world, the top markets being Canada, the US and Western Europe.

Ownership and Investment

• 73% of BC's wireless companies are privately held with the majority of funding coming from cashflow, proprietors/friends and family and government sources. They recognize that external sources of funding are necessary for future growth.
• Companies are seeking a minimum of $127 M of investment over the next two years.

Vehicles of Growth

• 77% of companies indicate new growth will come from new products or technologies.
• Access to wireless related innovation requires access to: research publications, leading research scientists and engineers; and testing facilities.
• Critical success factor for future growth are ability to execute sales and having access to target markets and technology.