Worldwide mobile data traffic is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 91.2 percent between 2010 and 2015 to reach 5,904.1 Petabytes per month by end-2015, compared to 231.1 Petabytes per month at end-2010. However, mobile data revenue is not growing as fast as mobile data traffic. Worldwide mobile data revenue stood at $290.3bn in 2010 and is expected to grow at a comparatively lower CAGR of 13.2 per cent between 2010 and 2015.

The figures come from Mobile Data Usage Trends 2011-2015, the latest report from Portio Research, in which the company explains the state of the mobile data industry now, and the implications of this for the short- to medium-term. 

The report breaks down worldwide mobile subscriber behaviour into regional groups, and also offers data on mobile smartphone use. There are also in-depth country profiles on the UK, China, India, the US, Chile, and UAE.

“Mobile internet use is now booming, combined with the rapidly-growing use of social media sites and mobile apps, and so valuable mobile network resources are under ever-increasing pressure,” says the company. “Smart network operators know that mobile network data capacity is a valuable and finite resource, and MNOs need to understand how data is being used, and how demands are likely to continue increasing in the coming years.”

The report offers detailed market sizing data and five-year forecasts for data sets including: worldwide subscriber base (in total and broken down by region); smartphone user base; worldwide cost per MB for data; monthly mobile data traffic per smartphone user; and mobile data traffic growth by region. The report also forecasts revenues associated with mobile data over the next five years. 

There are also sections on monetising mobile services, and social networking, as well as analysis of both developed and developing markets. 

The report is downloadable from the Portio Research website. Pricing for the report starts at £1,495 plus VAT for a 1-5-user licence.