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Mobile Network Traffic Projected to Increase Tenfold by 2015

6:30 am on December 31, 2008 | Category: Cellular, Telecom Services, Wireless, Wireless Technology

A recent report suggests that mobile phone operators in developed countries should expect a tenfold increase in network traffic over the next seven years, as the number of customers using cell phones for data applications grows substantially.

Ongoing growth in the mobile data sector will be driven by improved mobile broadband devices (such as USB modems and smartphones), widespread deployment of 3G and 4G cellular networks, and more affordable wireless bandwidth, according to Analysys Mason, the market research firm that released the report.

“While developed regions will account for just 25% of the cellular user population by 2015, they will generate 65% of total global wireless network traffic,” commented report co-author, Dr. Mark Heath. “This is due to a higher proportion of advanced handsets and the earlier deployment of more advanced cellular technologies, such as LTE, which have higher throughput.”

Based on this forecast, the average mobile phone user in developed markets will use 455-Megabytes of monthly voice and data bandwidth by 2015, up from 56-Megabytes this year. These estimates are actually quite conservative in nature, however, according to Dr. Alastair Brydon, another co-author of the report.

“Strong take-up of USB modem services could result in traffic per cellular customer increasing to as much as 23 times its 2008 level by 2015. Mobile operators may need networks that are able to support a huge increase in traffic, and should review their strategies towards USB modem services,” Brydon said. “In the short-term, underutilisation of 3G networks allows mobile operators to offer low-cost USB services, but operators may be forced to rethink their strategies when they are confronted by the need to make further network investment.”

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