United Kingdom - Mobile Data Market Insights - 3G, 4G and Forecasts

Synopsis

The UK’s 3G and mobile data market is one of the largest in Europe. Competition among network operators has induced them to provide similar pricing and usage models, commonly including between 3GB and 10GB per month. This has substantially increased consumer use of mobile data. Low-key data applications such as SMS dominate the market while mobile TV, though widely available, has thus far failed to capture public attention. This report surveys the UK’s mobile data market, providing an overview of 3G developments, regulatory issues and technologies. It also profiles the major operators, presents statistics on non-voice services, and analyses developments in mobile TV and mobile application stores.

Key developments:

Ofcom claims 4G spectrum efficiency gains of up to 200% on 3G; 800MHz and 2.6GHz auction delayed until late 2012; Big Three m-commerce initiative; UK Broadband LTE developments in 3.5GHz band; Everything Everywhere and BT Wholesale trial LTE in the 800MHz band; 3UK reports 97% of all network traffic is data; MBNL signs £100 million network deal with Virgin Media Business; Everything Everywhere secures permission to refarm its 1800MHz holdings for 4G; potential LTE interference with DTTV in 800MHz band; Everything Everywhere extends LTE trial, upgrades HSPA+ network to 21Mb/s; Pingit mobile payment app launched; regulator’s 2010 market data and Q2 2011 update; operator data to end-2011; market developments to early 2012.

Companies covered in this report include:

H3, O2, Vodafone, Everything Everywhere, Virgin Mobile, UK Broadband.