More massive growth in data

MOBILE

Worldwide mobile data volumes are still on a massive growth curve, says Ericsson. Mobile broadband currently accounts for only 10% of total mobile subscriptions but a rapidly increasing majority of the traffic.

Ericsson's measurement of actual traffic in networks around the world show that global mobile data has nearly tripled in the last year, growing more than 10 times faster than voice. Mobile data traffic continues to grow exponentially even after the historic cross over point in December 2009 when data first exceeded voice, reported by Ericsson earlier this year.

According to the company’ s statistics, global measured mobile data traffic stands at nearly 225 000 terabytes per month as of the second quarter of 2010.

  The growth and benefits of mobile broadband are undeniable, said Ericsson's Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer & President of Ericsson Silicon Valley Hå kan Eriksson. The business model for mobile broadband is becoming one of increasing profitability and competitive differentiation through superior quality of service. Operator's focus on end-to-end converged IP networks is key to addressing the dramatic traffic growth, while reducing costs and improving the user experience. For consumers, mobile broadband is transforming the way we communicate and prosper as a society.

Today there are over five billion mobile subscriptions worldwide and Ericsson envisions 50 billion connected devices by 2020.

In Africa, Ericsson has long highlighted the economic and social benefits of broadband access, as part of enabling a digital society in Africa. At a recent meeting of members of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization in Stockholm, Ericsson said the telecom market in Africa had recently experienced exceptional growth. According to the GSMA, the number of mobile connections in Africa has risen 86 million in the past 12 months to 300 million. Coverage throughout Africa has grown, while the cost of mobile communication has fallen. This trend has allowed tens of millions of Africans to become connected for the first time.

However, the company noted that the regulatory environment played a key role in determining telecom growth in any market. “ To realize the full social and economic benefits of this investment, African governments need to provide a sound, competitive regulatory environment as well as ensure that sufficient spectrum is available, particularly for mobile broadband services.”