Mobile data traffic generated by devices like feature-phones and tablets is expected to surpass 90,000PB by 2017, according to a report from the Juniper Research.
The report reveals that about 50% of data traffic generated by mobile phones, tablets and other 3G or 4G connected devices is expected to be transfer to Wi-Fi and Small Cell networks in 2013.
Data traffic equal to 10 billion movie downloads or 9,000PB per year will be offloaded from mobile operator’s networks.
According to the report, North America and Western Europe are expected to have the highest offload factor by 2017.
Operators are expected to profit from the decrease in load on their over-stretched networks, while they are expected to loose monetisation opportunities on the lost data usage, analysts said.
In response to the decrease in load, the operators are collaborating with Wi-Fi networks to introduce their own carrier grade Wi-Fi solutions, while the 4G technologies like the LTE with other wireless technologies are allowing operators to offer new services.
Juniper Research report author Nitin Bhas said that while a 4G connection need not necessarily mean more data usage, consumers are in fact adapting to faster speeds and more data services, which could lead to more data usage.
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"This increase in user demand for services in turn creates new opportunities within different economic sectors including commerce, energy, health and education, completing a cycle of demand," Bhas said.
According to the operators are expected to offer seamless authentication and access experience similar to that of the cellular network with adoption of Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) and Hotspot 2.0 versions.
