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Video streaming and downloads will contribute the largest proportions of total usage on 3G devices

Photograph of Alastair BrydonThe service mix on mobile devices will see a radical change in the next few years. The overall mix of wireless network traffic will change significantly between 2009 and 2014, with traffic-intensive data services dominating the mix.

Video streaming and downloads will contribute the largest proportions of total data usage in developed markets, at 48.1% in 2014, as shown in the figure below. This is because video services will require a relatively high data rate and will be popular services, being adopted by many users and used for a significant period of time.

The next biggest contributor to data usage will be browsing, at 17.0% by 2014. Browsing will be widely used as a means of accessing information and services, whether on PCs (via a USB modem or datacard) or on mobile devices. The increasing popularity of using wireless access for these services, coupled with increasing complexity of Web content, will cause this data traffic increase.

Average data usage per 3G device

Average data usage per 3G device, split by data service, in the integrated scenario, 2008–2014

 

By 2014, data services will account for about 99% of all service usage, as shown in the figure below.

Graph showing the increasing importance of wireless data

Average service usage per 3G device, split by service, 2008-2014

About the author:

Dr Alastair Brydon has worked in digital radio communications for over 25 years. He provides expert advice on 2G, 3G and 4G mobile systems and standards including GSM, UMTS and LTE. He has co-authored over 40 major reports on the development of wireless technology and services.

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