Wireless Network Traffic 2008-2015:
forecasts and analysis

Dr Alastair Brydon, Co-Founder, Unwired Insight

Dr Alastair Brydon and Dr Mark Heath

Co-Founders of Unwired Insight

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or telephone +44 (0) 1480 819391.


"Our report provides the first independent forecast of growth in wireless network traffic. We show that fixed-mobile substitution and rapid growth in take-up of wireless data services will lead to unprecedented increases in wireless network traffic. Mobile network operators are at risk if their networks are not ready to support this traffic and the associated fall in revenue per megabyte."

 

Product overview

Usage of mobile data services has started to increase significantly, driven by the rapid take-up of smartphones, such as the 3G iPhone, and of plug-and-play USB (HSPA) modems. There is a growing risk that data traffic will strain the capacity of wireless networks, and that networks will not be able to remain profitable while supporting emerging services that generate low revenue per megabyte.

This report provides detailed forecasts of wireless network traffic generated by cellular users. Traffic is broken down by terminal and service type for each major region of the world (Western Europe, North America, developed Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Central and South America, developing Asia and the rest of the world). The report compares the amount of traffic generated by mobile data services with that arising from conventional mobile voice services, and also assesses the impact of mobile VoIP services on wireless networks. It identifies the types of terminal and service that will have the greatest effect on overall network traffic.

 

This report answers your key questions

Wireless network traffic 2008-2015: forecasts and analysis answers your key questions:

  • What will happen to the traffic levels on wireless networks as new services and devices stimulate growth in take-up and usage levels of data services?
  • How far will the revenue per megabyte from wireless services decrease as traffic levels rise?
  • What are the key drivers of and barriers to wireless network traffic over the next seven years?
  • How do different types of device, such as USB modems, smartphones and basic mobile phones, compare in terms of the wireless network traffic and revenue per megabyte they generate?
  • Which services will have the greatest impact on wireless network traffic?
  • When will data traffic exceed voice traffic on wireless networks, and how much bigger will data become?
  • What will be the balance between indoor and outdoor traffic carried by wireless networks?
  • How will the level of VoIP traffic compare with that of circuit-switched voice traffic?
  • How will the trends in wireless network traffic differ between regions?
  • What are the major variables in forecasting future wireless network traffic, and how could these influence the amount of traffic carried by networks?