Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Study Finds Tablets Generate 3X More Data Traffic Than Smartphones



Mobile carriers in the U.S. are very concerned about the amount of traffic on their data networks. Too much and the whole thing gets clogged and slows down. A study by video optimization firm Bytemobile has found that it’s not the smartphones carriers need to worry about… it’s the tablets.
According to this study, tablets drive three times more mobile data than smartphones. Sure, there are more smartphones being used than tablets right now, but Forrester Research estimates that by 2016, one-third of all adults in the U.S. will own a tablet of some kind. At three times the traffic, this can quickly become an issue. Granted, not all of those tablets will have connectivity to a mobile carrier, but it’s still something to keep an eye on.
The higher use of data is due in part by higher web browsing (160% more from iPads than iPhones in this study) and the increased use of streaming video services on tablets.
Of course, since Bytemobile is a video optimization company, the report also found that slower networks streamed lower quality video (240p resolution), and they obviously suggest that this indicates the need for carriers to consider video optimization and caching technologies… something they might know a little something about.
Full press release after the break.

Bytemobile’s New Mobile Analytics Report Gives Operators Insight for
Managing and Monetizing Increasing Volumes of Traffic

Santa Clara, Calif., May 15, 2012 - Bytemobile, Inc., the industry leader in video optimization and Smart CapacityTM solutions for mobile network operators, today published its quarterly Mobile Analytics Report for May 2012. Now in its third year, the Mobile Analytics Report provides insight into subscriber behavior and related factors that determine quality of experience (QoE) for mobile data services today. The intent is to give operators real-world use cases for measuring, managing and monetizing mobile data through QoE.
The new report shows the potential impact of tablet usage on operator networks as adoption by both consumers and business users accelerates. Forrester Research estimates that one-third of U.S. adults will own a tablet by 2016, with penetration reaching 112 million. The Mobile Analytics Report reveals that on average, operators process 3x more data volume on their networks for tablets than for smartphones. Apple iPad subscribers browse 33 web pages per session, generating 160% more data than the browsing of iPhone subscribers.
The report also highlights how faster networks can drive increased revenues as users immediately begin consuming higher-quality video content. On average, a network with a bit rate of 300Kbps delivers 74% of requested videos at 240p resolution. A network with a bit rate of 600Kbps delivers 66% of requested videos at 380p and 480p resolution.
Another finding is that the majority of videos traversing mobile networks are requested by multiple subscribers. On average, over 50% of all videos are requested and served multiple times. Approximately 16% of videos are requested more than 100 times over the same mobile network. During peak traffic periods, repeat requests for videos increase from 31% to 50%. This data points to the potential value that caching solutions can deliver to subscriber QoE by improving network efficiency in processing video traffic.

Traffic and the User Experience
“Our latest Mobile Analytics Report further validates the need for mobile network operators to take a proactive approach to measuring and managing escalating data traffic,” said Chris Koopmans, chief operating officer, Bytemobile. “This particular report highlights the repetitive nature of video streaming – with over 50% of video requests during peak hours being repeat requests for the same videos. Our data demonstrates the advantages of optimization techniques such as proactively caching popular videos within the network, which enables operators to stay ahead of subscriber demand and deliver a superior user experience to all customers.”
The findings in the Mobile Analytics Report are generated from Mobile Analytics, Bytemobile’s mobile data traffic reporting solution. The report anonymously sources data traffic statistics from the 3G and 4G networks of Bytemobile’s global tier-one customer base and provides insight into the current state of the mobile ecosystem. Its findings have been cited widely by industry market research firms and the media.

Bytemobile – Smart Capacity at the CoreTM
Bytemobile® Smart CapacityTM platforms enable mobile operators to deliver the best possible experience to their subscribers under all network conditions and to differentiate their services based on subscriber usage. The company’s solutions have been deployed in the mobile networks of more than 130 operators worldwide to manage escalating demand for capacity due to video and other rich multimedia content and applications. With Smart Capacity, mobile operators can improve utilization of existing capacity and control operating expenses, while increasing revenue growth and profitability. Bytemobile is the industry leader in video optimization with 50 operators under contract. To learn more, visit www.bytemobile.com.
Bytemobile, the Bytemobile logo, Smart Capacity, and Smart Capacity at the Core are trademarks, service marks and/or registered trademarks of Bytemobile, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks and product names used herein are the property of their respective owners.

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