The team at technology market research firm Infonetics Research says mobile broadband now tops SMS a leading generator of mobile data revenue.
The times are, indeed, changing, according to excerpts from the firm’s most recent 2G, 3G, LTE Mobile Services and Subscribers market size and forecast report.
“Europe continues to be the main drag on global mobile services revenue, but Europe’s BIG 5—Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Vodafone—see some light at the end of the tunnel, with looming consolidation that should ease the pressure on mobile services revenue,” explains Stéphane Téral, principal analyst for mobile infrastructure and carrier economics at Infonetics Research.
Other mobile services market highlights uncovered in the report summary include:
- Worldwide mobile service revenue barely budged in the first half of 2014 (1H14), up just 0.5% from the same period a year ago, to $385.5 billion
- Gains in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA), Asia Pacific, and North America together offset a high double-digit decline in EMEA
- For the first time, voice usage slightly slowed, dragged by China where over-the-top (OTT) alternatives took their share
- Mobile broadband revenue rose 26% in 1H14 from 1H13 and continued to drive overall mobile services market growth
- Despite the rise of mobile data, blended ARPU continues to fall, but at a much slower pace in every region, including developing Asia Pacific
