Smartphone, tablet data use on mobile versus Wi-Fi

[Jan]

Smartphone, tablet data use: Mobile versus Wi-Fi

A new report reveals the telecommunications industry is grossly underestimating the extent of Wi-Fi usage in South Africa.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

The main finding of the research was that Wi-Fi data usage exceeds that of mobile by three times.

Of course... ADSL data (to which the wifi hotspot is connected) is far cheaper than 3G data.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Of course... ADSL data (to which the wifi hotspot is connected) is far cheaper than 3G data.

Yes, ADSL backhaul is common, but there are a number of wireless point-to-point links and a fairly rapid shift to fibre.

 

[kingrob]

I've got 10GB 3G data & 10GB wifi hotspot data on my Telkom Mobile phone & I've never managed to use it up in one month.

Rather not tell you what I pay for it, otherwise you might start crying - and never stop.

Thanks Telkom!

 

[Quintrix]

“The statistics confirm that customers use private networks – home and work Wi-Fi points – for most of their data downloads,” said Geerdts

I'm confused. I assume the article talks about the uptake of public wi-fi, refering to Telkom and Always-on riding the wave but it seems most of the data is via private networks.

Somehow i do not really see private networks as "wi-fi" but more as ADSL, FTT*, etc

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

I'm confused. I assume the article talks about the uptake of public wi-fi, refering to Telkom and Always-on riding the wave but it seems most of the data is via private networks.

Somehow i do not really see private networks as "wi-fi" but more as ADSL, FTT*, etc

Most people think of a Samsung S5 or an iPhone as a cellular mobile device and it is a mindshift to realise that it is not.

If you ask the average South African about Wi-Fi usage on the smartphone (from home ADSL or otherwise) they would probably say it was a small portion, or maybe as much as 50-50%. Even informed industry estimates had put this at 50-60% Wi-Fi. The truth is that only 25% of smartphone usage is cellular - that is what we found from our sample.

Incidentally, the rate of public Wi-Fi uptake was also higher than expected.

 

[Quintrix]

Chris were you in any way possible to analise the wifi uptake any further? What sectors of the population ?

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Chris were you in any way possible to analise the wifi uptake any further? What sectors of the population ?

This is technical data we analysed from the smartphone/tablet perspective so the segmentation would be usage-based and package based (bundle sizes of that customer) and by choice of mobile operator, rather than demographic.

It was interesting that the specifics clearly varied by mobile operator, especially on the public Wi-Fi side

 

[entrepr]

Interesting. What is the impact of LTE on those numbers? Surely it will skew usage towards mobile again?

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Interesting. What is the impact of LTE on those numbers? Surely it will skew usage towards mobile again?

We have a lot of info about that - both global comparisons and SA results. We're chatting to a mobile operator who wants 'first look' at that, but I will release it in due course.