Rapid smartphone uptake driving growth of data traffic, says Ericsson report

APPROXIMATELY 40% OF ALL wireless phones sold in Q3 were smartphones while data traffic doubled between Q3 2011 and Q3 2012, and it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 50% between 2012 and 2018, driven mainly by video, says the most recent Ericsson Mobility Report, released this week by the giant communications technology maker. Total mobile subscriptions are 6.4 billion now, although the company says that number includes about 4.3 billion actual people as many own multiple subscriptions. The number will rise to 6.6 billion by year’s end and to 9.3 billion in...