Telecom Lead @ Mobile World Congress 2013: Mobile operator data revenues will overtake voice revenues globally by 2018, according to GSMA.

The growth drivers will include surge in demand for connected devices and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.

READ Mobile World Congress 2013 HERE

According to a report by GSMA and PwC, mHealth could save $400 billion in healthcare costs in OECD countries.

Connected cars could save one in nine lives through emergency calling services, while mEducation can reduce student drop-outs by eight per cent or 1.8 million children.

Smart metering can cut carbon emissions by 27 million tonnes – the equivalent of planting 1.2 billion trees.

In developing countries — according to the GSMA-PwC report —         mHealth to help save one million lives in sub-Saharan Africa.

mAutomotive will improve food transport and storage, which could help feed more than 40 million people annually – equivalent to entire the population of Kenya.

mEducation can enable 180 million students to further their education, while intelligent transport systems could reduce commute times by 35 percent, giving commuters back a whole week each year.

The increase in mobile operator data revenues is a global trend across both developed and emerging markets.

In 2012, Japan became the first country where data revenues exceeded voice revenues, due largely to the availability of advanced mobile broadband networks and a higher adoption of the latest smartphones, tablets and connected devices.

This year, Argentina’s data revenues will exceed voice revenues, attaining this milestone ahead of the US and UK, which will reach this point in 2014.

Kenya will experience this shift in 2016, with other emerging economies expected to follow as mobile broadband continues to thrive.

Data growth has spurred significant advances in connected devices and M2M technologies globally. Four sectors in particular – health, automotive, education and smart cities – are building on the evolution of mobile broadband access and services.

mHealth – In the fight against malaria, TB, HIV and perinatal conditions, greater use of mobile connectivity could save more than one million lives in sub-Saharan Africa between now and 2017. In developed countries, mHealth products and services could shave a massive $400 billion off the annual healthcare bill in 2017.

mAutomotive – A staggering 240 million tonnes of food spoils during transit and in storage every year in developing countries. The use of mobile to track trucks, optimise fleet performance and monitor the temperature of storage facilities would save enough food to feed 40 million people in 2017, equivalent to the entire population of Kenya.

In OECD countries, connected cars equipped with in-car emergency call services can help save 35,000, or one in nine, lives by 2017 by providing quicker and more accurate emergency location and response times.

mEducation – The use of mobile handsets, e-readers and tablets to enable flexible learning in developed nations will boost primary and secondary student retention rates by eight per cent, or 1.8 million children, by 2017.

In the developing world, of the 610 million students enrolled in primary education, only 10 per cent are expected to enter secondary education. The impact of mEducation will result in a 180 million students having the opportunity to stay in education over the next five years in developing countries.

Smart Cities – People can reclaim one full week of time annually as a result of intelligent transport systems that will monitor traffic flows and encourage the use of public transport, which will help reduce commute times by up to 35 per cent in developing smart cities in 2017.

A staggering 360 million tonnes of carbon is emitted by developed market cities each year. Through smart metering this could be reduced by 27 million tonnes, or the equivalent of planting 1.2 billion trees, in 2017.

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