For many years now rising data traffic has
been setting unprecedented trends in the mobile industry. Although communication
service providers /network operators have realized the ramifications underlying
this deluge of mobile data, they have unfortunately been very sluggish to
respond to it. The business reality as it prevails now is that traditional
voice oriented business models have been replaced by data, and voice now
remains relatively less strategic in defining operators' revenue strategy. On
the other hand, for mobile subscribers too, it's the availability of choice and
personalization in mobile data services that commands their loyalty and keeps
them satisfied. As mobile data consumption continues growing stronger, it keeps
ushering in massive transformation on myriad aspects concerning networks,
business models, devices, mobile ecosystem and subscribers too.
The scenario has drastically changed over
the past two years. Now, operators across the globe, in both developed and
emerging mobile broadband markets are finding that their precious networks
resources are getting exhausted critically like never before. Several wireless
carriers have reported that mobile data traffic over their networks have
skyrocketed like never before. The fast increase in mobile broadband services, rich
digital content such as Video streaming, Online Gaming, Social Networking etc
as the impact of web 2.0 and eventually the arrival of iconic smartphones and
connected devices such as Apple iPhone, Google Android devices, the iPad etc
have together generated an unprecedented level of stress on mobile networks,
leaving network operators in anxiety and incapable to respond. In 2010, global
mobile data traffic nearly tripled (2.6 times growth) for the third year in a
row, despite a slow economic recovery, increased traffic offload, and tiered pricing
emerged a new norm. Again, global mobile data traffic is expected to grow 26
times from 2010 to 2015, a 92 percent CAGR. Mobile video traffic was 49.8 percent
of total mobile data traffic at the end of 2010, and will account for 52.8 percent
of traffic by the end of 2011. Also by 2015, two-thirds of the world's mobile
data traffic will be video.
