Trends contributing to increased demand for mobile broadband

Smartphones

Touch-screen smartphones (launched from around 2007) have been a key driver of mobile data traffic growth, offering users the ability to browse standard websites on their mobile device for the first time. The volume of smartphone data carried by cellular networks is growing very rapidly, driven predominantly by increases in device penetration, but also by increases in average usage¹²

In developed markets, a smartphone generates about 50 times more data per month than a basic phone¹³. This includes all data generated and consumed by the device – including that offloaded onto a Wi-Fi network. For example, in Western Europe a smartphone generates 73 MB of data traffic per month, compared to an average of 1.22 MB per month for a basic phone, which equates to a ratio of 60:1 for the two device types.

In absolute terms the volume of traffic generated by smartphones remains small compared to tablets and laptops. One notable development will be 3D displays, which is anticipated to become well established on smartphones by 2013 and it is estimated that these 3D smartphones could generate many times more traffic than established user applications.

Connected devices

A wide range of new, connected devices, including tablets, e-readers and gaming devices, have emerged in the last three years and are already beginning to have an impact on mobile traffic volumes. A tablet generates as much as 500 times the data traffic of a basic mobile phone¹⁴. For example, in Western Europe a tablet generates a total of 740 MB per month compared to 1.22 MB per month for a basic phone.

Other device developments

Table 1 provides an overview of other technology developments that are set to increase user demand for mobile data:

TABLE 1

Technology developments that are set to increase user demand for mobile data

3.2 Mobile Internet usage is increasing

Basically, people expect and would like to use any Internet application on their mobile devices in the same manner as they do in fixed connection. Additionally, mobile devices enable new applications such as location based services.

Mobile Internet took off in 2007 and by 2009; there were 95 million mobile Internet users in Europe and 55 million mobile Internet users in USA. The recent take-up of smart phones, which is tailored for mobile Internet experience, is also a key driving force in the significant development of the mobile Internet market. Most mobile broadband systems are extensions of the Internet services and focused on entertainment.

In February 2011, more than 90% of the world’s population was under the coverage of mobile networks which, compared with the global Internet penetration of 30%, represents a huge potential for mobile broadband to become a major access enabler to Internet. For the majority of people in developing countries, the first access to the Internet is performed via mobile broadband networks using IMT technologies in most instances. This continuous and seamless mobile connection is enabled by small and capable mobile terminals using IMT Technologies or PCs with dongles and tablets. This type of Internet access via mobile terminals is spreading very rapidly.

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