Demand for mobile broadbandconnections is skyrocketing, anOfcom
report revealed today.
More than 70% of consumers use mobile broadband at home, but
nearly 50% in the 45-64 age group use it at work or on the move. At
least four in 10 use it at least once a day, and six in 10 use it
several times a week.
The trend confirms
CIOs' fears of growing challenges to control access to
corporate data by staff and customers.
Ofcom reported that the number of
3G broadband connections grew 60% to 12.5 million, representing
17% of all mobile connections.
3G technology makes it easier for consumers to access services
including internet, television and radio
on the
move.
"In the first half of 2008, mobile broadband moved from the
niche business market into the mainstream consumer market," Ofcom
said.
Mobile telephony accounted for 40% of the total time consumers
spent using telecommunications, up from 25% in 2002. Ofcom said
revenues from
mobile telephony exceeded those from fixed-line, internet and
corporate data services for the first time in a total telephony
market worth £38.8bn.
Revenues of the UK communications communications companies were
up 4.0% to £51.2bn. But the average consumer spent £93.63 a month
in 2007, 1.8% less compared with 2006. This was due to falling
prices as communications providers cut prices to boost demand and
fill newly installed broadband capacity.
Figures for the very young and very old are unreliable because
of sample sizes
Mobile data services development trends in 2007>>