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 in 2011, 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 developments; Big Three m-commerce initiative; UK Broadband LTE developments in 3.5GHz band; smartphone penetration to reach 50% by end-2010; Everything Everywhere and BT Wholesale trial LTE in the 800MHz band; NFC launches show great promise for mobile payments; potential LTE interference with DTTV in 800MHz band; regulator’s 2010 market data and Q1 2011 update; operator data to June 2011.

Companies covered in this report include:

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