The new report reveals that the average volume of video traffic on mobile networks has risen by 10 percentage points since this time last year – up to 50% from 40%. In certain networks, video traffic is up to 69% of total traffic. Also, while the average subscriber uses YouTube and Facebook for roughly the same amount of time – about nine minutes per session – YouTube generates a staggering 350 times more traffic.
According to Bytemobile’s report, an iPad user generates three times the data traffic that an iPhone subscriber does. Also of note, mobile social networking is taking off, as smartphone users spend an average of 4.57 minutes per session on Twitter, 8.51 minutes per session on YouTube and 9.06 minutes per session on Facebook.
The report also shows that a majority of traffic generated by iOS devices – 83% – comes from just three native Apple apps – Media Player, Safari and App Store/iTunes, at 47%, 21% and 15%, respectively. The single most used app is Safari, which accounts for over 60% of transactions between the device and the network.
Android devices generate more advertising transactions and corresponding data volume on mobile networks than iOS devices. In addition, Google is far and away the most dominant source of mobile data traffic produced by advertisements, with an average of 75% of the total ad-generated data.
"Our latest Mobile Analytics Report substantiates anecdotal evidence that demand for mobile content continues to grow. As devices continue to get smarter – with faster processors, more memory and bigger, sharper screens – content consumption, particularly video, continues to grow aggressively,” said Chris Koopmans, chief operating officer, Bytemobile. “The report also demonstrates very clearly that carriers use optimization techniques to keep up with exploding traffic demand, while continuing to deliver a superior user experience.”
The findings in the Mobile Analytics Report are generated from Smart Capacity™ Mobile Analytics, Bytemobile’s mobile data traffic reporting solution. The Mobile Analytics Report anonymously sources data traffic statistics from the 3G and 4G networks of Bytemobile’s global tier-one customer base and provides insight into the current state of the mobile ecosystem. Its findings have been cited widely by industry market research firms and the media.