As Wi-Fi continues to evolve into a prevalent wireless communication platform, a new study by market strategy consultancy iGR analyzes this trend and offers insight into future wireless usage.
The report discusses how user-driven usage, which is currently the dominant form of Wi-Fi offload, will be exceeded by carrier-driven usage in the near future. The amount of carrier-driven Wi-Fi offload is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 215 percent by 2017, whereas user-driven Wi-Fi offload is expected to grow 49 percent.
User-driven usage involves an end-user choosing a Wi-Fi connection over his or her mobile broadband connection, whether it’s because they feel it provides better coverage, a faster connection or a way to avoid additional costs in his or her monthly mobile data plans.
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Carrier-driven usage, on the other hand, entails mobile operators actively switching 3G/4G traffic to Wi-Fi networks in an effort to decrease traffic congestion and offer customers a high-quality and reliable wireless connection. While the required technology needed to make this a reality is in its infancy, iGR estimates the outlook to be more successful by the year 2017.
"Wi-Fi offload is becoming a critical component in the hetnet and iGR believes that Wi-Fi data usage will grow strongly over the forecast period," said Iain Gillott, president and founder of iGR, in a statement.
The study also makes predictions about the amount of user-driven, carrier-driven and Wi-Fi only offload by venue such as hotels, sports arenas, airports, restaurants and hospitals.
"By looking at our primary research and analyzing U.S. Consumers' habits, we were able to forecast how the Wi-Fi offload data, measured in GB per month, is distributed across these different types of venues," Gillott said. "iGR thinks this information is unique in the industry."
Relating to the shift toward wireless communication, a recent study by iGR also estimated that 86 percent of broadband data use in the United States households in 2017 will be accessed on Wi-Fi devices. These devices include tablets, laptops, e-readers and smartphones.
Edited by Alisen Downey