The industry knows that mobile data traffic is increasing, but by how much? CTIA is shedding some new light on the trend in new numbers from its semi-annual survey.
CTIA reports that 226.5 billion megabytes of data were transmitted over wireless networks in the United States during the last half of 2010, more than double the 107.8 billion megabytes transmitted during the same period in 2009.
The rise in data traffic corresponded with an increase in the number of active smartphones on the market, which rose 57 percent in 2010 to 78.2 million. The number of feature phones on the market rose slightly, as did wireless tablets, laptops and modems, which rose 14 percent to 13.6 million.
"Whether it's sending a text, making a phone call or accessing the wireless Internet, the facts prove our industry continues to offer innovative and competitive services and products that consumers love and are using more than ever," CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent said in prepared remarks for his Tuesday keynote address at the association's spring trade show.
Despite the rise in data usage, the survey found that the average wireless bill actually decreased slightly to $47.21 last year, from $48.16 in 2009. However, overall service revenues grew nearly 5 percent to $159.9 billion and sales from mobile data grew to $50.1 billion.
The report also found that use of SMS and MMS messages also increased. The number of text messages sent and received in the United States climbed to more than 2 trillion in 2010, from 1.56 trillion in 2009, and the number of MMS messages rose 64 percent to 56.6 billion.
The survey results will give the group additional leverage in its fight to get more spectrum for the wireless industry.
"This fact-based survey proves why our industry needs more spectrum," Largent said. "In order to meet the demands by consumers and businesses, we need more spectrum so our wireless ecosystem can keep fueling the 'virtuous cycle' of innovation and competition."
CTIA's semi-annual survey has been conducted since 1985 and tracks information submitted by wireless operators on subscribership, usage, sales and capital investment. The survey is voluntary and does not have a 100 percent response rate, but the most companies in the U.S. wireless industry respond to the survey. For CTIA's prior semi-annual survey in June, the group received responses from companies serving 95.5 percent of wireless subscriber connections in the United States.