Telecom Lead India: Mobile data traffic in India has
increased 54 percent in first half of 2012.
Data traffic generated by 3G services has increased by 78
percent.
Data traffic by 2G services has increased by 47 percent
during the same period.
2G users are consuming three-quarters of the total mobile
data traffic.
3G users consume four times more data than 2G users.
For arriving at the statistics, Nokia Siemens Networks
said its MBit Index report aggregates real traffic data across all the 2G
(GSM and EDGE) and 3G multivendor networks managed by Nokia Siemens Networks
for operators in India.
Nokia Siemens Networks expects India’s mobile data
consumption to double by June 2013.
Sandeep Girotra, head of India region at Nokia Siemens
Networks, said 2G has been relatively successful in driving mobile broadband
use in India, but the industry is now witnessing 3G pushing the mobile
broadband use to unprecedented levels.
Nokia Siemens suggested that while it’s important that 2G
networks need to be strengthened across the country, 3G network coverage,
especially in residential areas, needs to be enhanced.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ MBit Index indicates that despite
low 3G device penetration, by the end of June 2012 3G has outpaced 2G in terms
of data traffic growth.
As 2G networks have contributed over 75 percent of the
total data traffic generated, it is expected that 2G will continue to play a
pivotal role in providing basic mobile internet in India. Therefore, 2G is
likely to remain a focus area for operators. However, with 3G data now
generating 25 percent of the country’s total mobile data traffic, 3G is likely
to be the driver for continued high data growth in the country.
A first time 3G user consumes close to 400 MB of data
every month compared to about 100 MB consumption over 2G.
The recent tariff reductions in 3G services have resulted
in doubling 3G data traffic month on month.
Web browsing contributes 81 percent of 2G data traffic
while downloading videos constitutes 17 percent. The report also indicates a
steady growth of 4 percent in multimedia content traffic over 2G networks
across the country from December 2011 to June 2012.
3G data use is rising in metro telecom circles while 2G
use is stabilizing. It further indicates that category A and B telecom circles
together contribute 72 percent of mobile data traffic, thanks to improved
internet speed on 2G networks, and the availability of 2G and 3G dongles at
affordable prices.
Category B circles have witnessed the strongest demand
for 3G services with a growth rate of more than 87 percent between December
2011 and June 2012.
