Mobile World Congress: Mobile data in UK predicted to leapfrog voice by 2014
The UK mobile industry is gearing up for a symbolic year in which mobile data surpasses the load from voice calls as early as 2014, according to the latest analysis from industry body GSMA.
The organisation based its claim on extrapolated data from existing growth in connected devices and machine to machine communications which are all rapidly expanding.
Worldwide mobile data won’t surpass voice until 2018.
Released to coincide with Mobile World Congress, the five year forecast also highlighted the power of mobile communications to improve lives, principally in Africa where it is estimated that mobile health services could save one million lives.
Moreover the study raises the prospect of reducing food waste by utilising mobile technology to control trucks and storage facilities – potentially saving enough food from spoilage to feed an additional 40m people by 2017.
Michael O'Hara, chief marketing officer at GSMA, said: “Mobile data is not just a commodity, it is becoming the lifeblood of our daily lives, society and economy, with more and more connected people and things.”