Traffic and market data report

TRAFFIC AND Market data report
ON THE PULSE OF THE NETWORKED SOCIETY

November 2011

CONTENTS
Mobile subscriptions update Subscriptions outlook Coverage Traffic development Mobile device and traffic correlations Mobile traffic: data vs voice Applications on mobile networks Consumer insights: smartphone usage Different phones – different habits Data plans and mobile PC usage Thesocioeconomic impact of data speeds
The contents of this document are based on a number of theoretical dependencies and assumptions and Ericsson shall not be bound by or liable for any statement, representation, undertaking or omission made in this document. Furthermore Ericsson may at any time change the contents of this document at its sole discretion and shall not be liable for the consequences of suchchanges.

4 6 8 10 11 12 13 14 16 19 20 22 23

Key facts Glossary

2 TRAFFIC AND MARKET DATA REPORT NOVEMBER 2011

Welcome

TO ThE EriCSSON TraffiC aNd MarkET daTa rEpOrT

Total smartphone traffic will triple in 2011. By 2016, users living on less than 1 percent of the Earth’s total land area are set to generate around 60 percent of mobile traffic. We are living in exciting times. Inall parts of the world, people are adopting more advanced mobile devices that enable connectivity anywhere, anytime. This trend is taking us towards a society where places, people and devices are constantly connected – a networked society. Global mobile penetration is now at 82 percent, and the total number of mobile subscriptions is at around 5.8 billion. Growth is particularly rapid in China andIndia, where 50 million new subscriptions were added in Q3 of this year alone. At the same time, behavior is changing just as rapidly. Smartphone users are now browsing the internet, chatting online, playing games and checking emails almost constantly – even before getting out of bed. Fueled by mobile broadband – where subscriptions have grown by 60 percent year-on-year – the data consumed bysmartphone users is surging. Mobile data surpassed voice in Q4 2009 and doubled voice in Q1 2011. These and many more interesting data points are presented in this report, alongside our insights and analysis. We hope you find it engaging and valuable.
aBOUT ThiS rEpOrT Ericsson has performed measurements over several years from a large base of live networks covering all regions of the world. The aimof this report is to share analysis based on these measurements and from other relevant studies to provide insights into the current traffic and market trends. The report will paint a broad, informative picture for anyone with an interest in the industry. We will continue to share traffic and market data, along with our analysis, on a regular basis.

TraffiC

11

SMarTphONES

14

STUdY21

Mobile data traffic is predicted to grow tenfold by 2016.

Around 40 percent of smartphone owners use the internet – even before getting out of bed.

Doubling a country’s broadband speed increases its GDP by 0.3 percent.

NOVEMBER 2011 TRAFFIC AND MARKET DATA REPORT 3

Mobile subscriptions update
Figure 1: Subscriptions by region, Q3 2011
Net additions
(millio n)

3.6

3.19

13
324
erica th Am Nor
ica er Am

Mobile subs cripti ons (mil lion ) 5

19

0 61
La tin

Western Euro pe

Ce nt ra l
&

5 59
pe uro nE

er st Ea

30

24

610

Africa

China

937

7.7

East dle Mid

244

Source: Ericsson (2011)

figure 1 Mobile subscription figures are estimates as of Q3 2011. Mobile net additions are estimates during Q3 2011. APAC= Asia Pacific. The estimate of mobile net additions has been made based on historic information, macroeconomic factors and Ericsson data. Historical data may be revised when operators report updated figures.

4 TRAFFIC AND MARKET DATA REPORT NOVEMBER 2011

21

0 86

ia Ind

21

Re st of AP AC

1,0 50

> Global mobile penetration reached 82 percent in Q3 2011 and mobile...