Mobile broadband to play key role in regulating mobile industry

According to Anaylsys Mason, the growth in mobile broadband will drive how the mobile industry will be regulated in the future.

An Ofcom-commissioned report from Analysys Mason assessed the mobile sector, and looked at the increase in mobile data usage (e.g. Internet).  This has increased significantly between September 2007 and March 2008, due to the availability of mobile broadband dongles and the use of HSPA technology on 3G networks.  It is also suggested that two mobile networks now carry more data traffic than voice traffic. 

This in turn means further network investment is required to cope with the new end-to-end bandwidth requirements, and will drive network investment strategies from mobile network operators.

Mobile voice usage has also continued to grow over the last few years, as consumers move from using fixed-lines.  This is partly due to free call bundles that come with mobile tariffs.

Mike Grant, partner at Analysys Mason said: “With users increasingly focussed on consumption of content across multiple networks, adjustments to the UK regulatory framework  are likely to be required if the benefits of the emerging trends are to be fully realised.”.

Further information

• Analysys Mason UK Mobile sector assessment (PDF format)