MediaTek is now second only to Qualcomm in the LTE baseband market, which grew 27 percent in Q1 to $5.8 billion (€5.2 billion).
According to Strategy Analytics’ latest market report on baseband market share, Taiwan-based MediaTek captured 18 percent of LTE baseband revenues in the three months to March, representing approximately €1.04 billion (€939 million).
In April, the analytics firm suggested Qualcomm and Apple were set to be given a run for their money in 2015 as lower-cost rivals like MediaTek begin to ramp up shipments.
The company launched the world’s first 10-core mobile processor in May.
Sravan Kundojjala, Strategy Analytics Associate Director, said: “The wait for the strong number two player in the LTE baseband market is over and MediaTek has now firmly established itself as the solid number two to Qualcomm.
“Strategy Analytics estimates MediaTek captured a double-digit LTE unit share in Q1 2015, helped by strong momentum for its LTE-integrated applications processors in China. We predict MediaTek will maintain its LTE momentum in the next few quarters.”
Qualcomm, MediaTek, Spreadtrum, Samsung LSI and Marvell captured the top five baseband revenue share spots in the first quarter, according to the research firm.
Qualcomm maintained market leadership with 61 revenue share, while Spreadtrum came in third with seven percent revenue share.
However, in the global 3G baseband market, Spreadtrum overtook MediaTek to claim the number two spot.
Stuart Robinson, Executive Director of Strategy Analytics’ Handset Component Technologies, said: “Strategy Analytics estimates Spreadtrum overtook MediaTek to capture the number two spot in the global 3G baseband market in Q1 2015, partly helped by market leaders Qualcomm and MediaTek’s shift in focus from 3G to 4G.
“Spreadtrum will continue to gain share in 3G basebands and is also expected to make good progress in 4G basebands through 2015.”
In LTE baseband shipments, Samsung LSI beat out Qualcomm for the number three spot, after the Korean manufacturer shunned Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 SoC for the Galaxy S6 in favour of its own Exynos 7 offering.
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Christopher Taylor, Director of the Strategy Analytics RF and Wireless Components, said: “Samsung LSI beat out Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 in Samsung Mobile’s Galaxy S6 and moved up to number three in LTE baseband shipments. Strategy Analytics estimates that Qualcomm’s LTE unit share dropped to 68 percent in Q1 2015 as a result of increased competition and the Galaxy S6 loss.”