3G generated one third of mobile data in India in 2012: Nokia Siemens

3G services generated about one third of the total mobile data in India in 2012 on the back of tariff reduction by the operators in middle of 2012, according to Nokia Siemens Networks’ MBit Index study.

There are about 7.2 million 3G subscribers of Reliance Communications, followed by 6.4 million of Bharti Airtel, 5.1 million of Idea Cellular and 3.3 million of Vodafone India.

According to the study, mobile data consumption (both 2G and 3G) has increased by about 92% between December 2011 and December 2012.

Mobile data traffic generated by 3G services increased by 196% while mobile data traffic generated by 2G services increased by 66% during the period.

At present, each 3G user consumes about 434 MB per month on an average while a 2G user consumes 115 MB per month.

About 70-75% of data is consumed by use of e-mail and browsing, while video applications take just about 6-7%. In advanced markets, video accounts to about 30% of total data consumption.

While metro telecom zones, which cover about 11% of population, account for about 21% of total mobile data, category A telecom zones that cover about 35% of population, account for about 40% of total mobile data usage, the study pointed out.

“The fact that data consumption by 3G users has tripled in one year clearly shows the rapid and steady increase in mobile data consumption in India. This translates into the need for high-quality mobile broadband services with improved speed and service quality to satisfy mobile broadband users,” said Sandeep Girotra, head of India region at Nokia Siemens Networks.