June 20, 2019
Wireless data use in U.S. nearly doubled in 2018: report
Demand for mobile data across nearly all metrics was up in 2018, according to CTIA’s 2019 Annual Wireless Industry Survey.
The survey found U.S. consumers used 82% more mobile data in 2018 compared to 2017, using a record 28.58 trillion megabytes (MB) of mobile data. Some of that rise is due to more devices being connected to mobile networks. The report found there were 421.7 million mobile devices connected in 2018, an increase of 21.5 million devices compared to the year prior. Nearly half of those are smartphones, according to the report, and subscriber connections grew 5.4%.
But data-only devices, including smartwatches, IoT devices, and connected cars, saw the most growth during the year. Data-only devices grew 10% in 2018 to reach 139.4 million devices.
US Cellular Data Consumption Up 82% In A Year & Cellular Voice/SMS Also Increases
An incredible 82% increase in cellular data year over year in the USA
- Voice call minutes grew 10% during the year
- Texting grew 16% during the year
It is one of the reasons that the tax authorities (in spite of voice and SMS being mostly unlimited pretty much everywhere in the Developing world) want to see all usage types accounted for : Voice, Cellular Data, SMS.
We get asked all the time – Why do we bother with Voice & SMS = Because it still matters to employees, employers, operators, and the tax man.
Wireless data use in U.S. nearly doubled in 2018: report
Back