Posted: 03rd Sep, 2009 By: MarkJ
The latest forecast from technology and media specialist
Coda Research Consultancy (CRC) has found that portable laptop and netbook users accessing the Internet via Mobile Broadband will consume 1.3 Exabyte’s of video content per month by 2017 - a sixty fold increase over 2009.
This figure will account for nearly three quarters of all global traffic via mobile broadband portables. The top region for video consumption will be Asia Pacific, which will account for just over half (53%) of all video traffic globally. To contrast, Europe will account for 26% of all global video traffic, and North America 14%.
The prominence of Asia Pacific represents its overall broadband traffic consumption via portables. Just under half (46%) of all global traffic via portables will be consumed in Asia Pacific, due in part to mobile broadband being the sole vehicle for many people to access broadband in developing countries. To compare, Europe will account for 26% of all global traffic, North America for 15%, Middle East and Africa for 5%, and Central and South America for 8%.
Steve Smith, founder of Coda Research Consultancy stated:
“In the short term, we also foresee increased frustration with bandwidth and speed. In parts of Western Europe for instance, as many as three quarters of users are dissatisfied with the speeds they receive. Government inaction is partly to blame. By falling behind in passing adequate legislation, many governments have hindered operators from keeping up with the behaviour and expectations of the majority of consumers. LTE will help meet consumers’ demands once it begins to impact the market, but this will not be until 2013."
The report shows that two thirds of global traffic via portables will be via next generation Mobile Broadband - Long Term Evolution ( LTE ) come 2017. Asia Pacific will consume just under half (45%) of global LTE traffic via portables. However, Europe and North America will be ahead in terms of LTE take up. 80% of traffic via portables in Europe will be via LTE, and three quarters of traffic in North America will be via this specification.