A new report from Juniper Research has revealed data generated by smartphones, tablets and feature phones will exceed 90 000 petabytes by 2017. This is the equivalent of 42 quadrillion tweets by 2017, or seven billion Blu-ray movies.
The report also finds that only 40% of the data generated by mobile devices will actually reach cellular networks by 2017, as the majority of data traffic will be via the WiFi network.
Other key findings in the report reveal that notebooks and e-readers will 'onload' over 20% of their data traffic to the mobile networks in 2013.
Challenges
According to the Mobile Data Offload & Onload: WiFi, Small Cell & Carrier-grade Strategies 2012-2017 report, network operators will still need offloading technologies such as WiFi and small cells to augment 4G networks.
"The trend will continue and operators will make use of more integrated units of WiFi and small cells. In the case of indoor cells, where most usage happens, you effectively have WiFi as the pioneer and are in many ways the leader in this area. Small cells are indeed becoming a part of it," adds report author Nitin Bhas.
Networking
The report also finds that mobile network operators are beginning to build out networks based on public access small cells, affecting the offload ecosystem.
The demand for high bandwidth services from end-users and the availability of WiFi on most mobile devices have forced the operators to address consumer expectations around quality and experience, while creating opportunities for the operators, says the report.
Earlier this year, networking giant Cisco said traffic produced by mobile data in SA in 2017 will reach volumes equivalent to 25 million DVDs each month or 271 million text messages each second.
According to Cisco, there will be over 849 million users in the MEA region, with 48 million of these based in SA. This means SA's mobile masses will have climbed two million in number between 2012 and 2017 - a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%.
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