10% of mobile users account for 90% of data use, suggests study

By on Jan 18, 2011 at 7:25 AM
mobile January 18, 2011

A study published by U.K. based paper The Telegraph tries to shed some light on the mobile data disparity. The report, which was commissioned by Bytemobile, indicates that 10% of mobile broadband users account for 90% of data traffic across wireless networks. The news, while not all that surprising, comes as mobile carriers the world over warn that the data demand may exceed their ability to build-out networks capable of handling the increased traffic. Over the past year, wireless providers have been adjusting the prices and data allowances associated with monthly plans trying to strike a profitable balance. Hopefully, here in the U.S., the arrival of all these “4G” networks will alleviate some of the stress carriers — and our wallets — are beginning to feel.Read

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  • StevenGlansburg

    How many percent of data users are also smartphone users out of the total ceullar users? I bet its about the same. Blackberries don’t count either since most use those as feature phones.

  • http://twitter.com/Eric6052 Eric Stephenson

    I agree that Blackberry doesn’t really count. When I had a Tour I used around two hundred fifty mega. Since I got the Droid X I average around seven gigs a month.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=696501740 Corey Washington

    put an end to capped data!

  • KCRic

    I’m just wondering, what the hell are you people doing that uses 7 gigs of data… on a cell phone?! Sure I easily use that on my computer but not even close to that on my phone. Torrents? Tethering? Those are all fine but the torrents can wait until you get home – I promise they’ll still be there. As for tethering, use it only if it’s absolutely necessary. Don’t attempt to run a damn data server off your phone. You fags are the reason prices are up so high and they throttle our speeds in the first place, which drops to a lower number every couple months. Thanks assholes.

    • Anonymous

      Slacker and Pandora use a good bit of data if you use them regularly. Even lots of web browsing with flash enabled will run up the meter. Its not hard to get up to 4 or 5gbs every month, especially on a cloud-heavy device (android). Recently purchased a Nexus S and it pulls down a lot more data traffic than my Pre Plus did (T-Mo has a much faster 3G network than VZW though, so that contributes).

      • Freighttrain2126

        I generally use around 3gb a month and don’t tether or torrent. Mostly it’s streaming Netflix and hulu and a bunch of web browsing. Not doing anything wrong.

  • http://twitter.com/saltorio Shawn S. Altorio

    It’s interesting that this is the exact same percentage that wired telecoms (at least here in Canada) cite regarding their bandwidth over cable and DSL lines.

    • http://www.twitter.com/hokes Brendan

      Yeah and then they feed that ten percent to the dogs. Even though I have an $80/month internet plan, I still only get 125gb per month data allowance which is no where near enough to support me and my roommates. I regularly have to pay the maximum allowed overage charge of $50.

  • Anonymous

    They need to reword these stats.

    “90% of cell data users result in 100% profit for providers.”

  • Anonymous

    Deja vu. It’s home broadband all over again. Knee cap the extreme abusers and keep it moving like the ISPs did and then it becomes a non-issue. The whole concept of unlimited plans is a farce anyway.

  • Anonymous

    Who’s got two thumbs and uses a disproportionate amount of date????? THISSSS GUYYYY!!!!

    • Anonymous

      and the worst part is that I don’t even tether my phone!!!

  • la rider

    There is limited bandwidth, it’s not a finite resource. To all those who are tethering their phones and running up the data and costs for those who don’t, Thank You. Eventually all providers will have a cap, I find TMobile’s to be the most fair, ATT ridiculous and much too little data, Sprint not much longer, and Verizon overpriced. If you are using large amounts of data then you should be paying for a land line.

    • la rider

      oops, meant: it is a finite resource

    • Anonymous

      I could take the hand-wringing from the carriers seriously (about running out of bandwidth) if it wasn’t the same carriers who were packing the smartphones they sell with apps to get television shows, call via WiFi and access streaming audio. What is the point in enabling the customer to suck up data and then complaining that the customer is sucking up data?

  • Anonymous

    I think that the lowest amount of data I’ve ever used in a month in the last year is 4 and a half gigs

  • AnnDroid

    I’m using 3-5GB monthly on my EVO. The display is large enough that when I want to go online, it’s quicker and easier to use my phone then go to my laptop. My phone is always with me as the laptop is not.

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