Yes, video streaming still dominates mobile data traffic, but according to a recent study from Allot Communications (News - Alert), “Global Mobile Broadband Traffic Report,” over the first half of 2011 VoIP and instant messaging recorded faster growth.
And with mobile VoIP’s impressive growth trajectory, that will continue.
"OTT [over-the-top] applications in particular, continue to grow at a phenomenal rate," the study noted, warning that a “shift in the status quo presents a real challenge for mobile operators and threatens their survival.”
According to industry journal Total Telecom, VoIP and IM usage increased by 101 percent. Not that they’re overtaking video streaming anytime soon -- video streaming started out miles ahead and clocked in with 93 percent growth, so it still dwarfs anything else, as VoIP and IM apps account for four percent of bandwidth, compared to video’s 39 percent.
Mobile operators aren’t exactly asleep at the switch, though. Up to 32 percent of mobile operators are using application-aware charging models, “a sign,” according to Allot, “that telcos are responding to the challenges posed by mobile broadband usage growth.” And 89 percent of the mobile operators covered by Allot's research are charging customers by data volume, and 51 percent have no unlimited options, the journal reports.
Earlier this week, TMCnet reported that Allot Communications announced that the company and certain selling shareholders, including certain members of the company's senior management, are offering for sale 5,465,000 ordinary shares of the company, consisting of 4,500,000 ordinary shares to be issued and sold by the company and 965,000 ordinary shares to be sold by the selling shareholders in an underwritten public offering.
The company and the selling shareholders have also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 819,750 additional ordinary shares to cover any over-allotments.
David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of David’s articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for TMCnet here.
Edited by Stefania Viscusi