Strategy Analytics predicts that some 6.05 million U.S. households will depend on a wireless or mobile platform--3G or 4G--as their only means of accessing the Web by the end of 2011.

The figure represents 6.9 percent of total U.S. broadband connections and a 430,000 net increase over 2010 levels. These mobile-only customers typically connect to broadband using 3G or 4G-enabled smartphones or PC dongles, and they are unable or unwilling to use a wired broadband service such as cable, DSL or fiber.

"We see two parallel markets for mobile only in the U.S.: users in remote or underserved areas where dependable fixed broadband is unavailable, and cost-conscious casual users, who are unlikely to exceed imposed data caps, and for whom mobile data rates are 'good enough,'" said Ben Piper, director of the Service Provider Strategies program at Strategy Analytics.