4G users are 10 times more data hungry than 3G users: Just 0.1 percent of 4G users consume more than half of all 4G downlink data measured, according to a survey by JDSU, a test and measurement (T&M) vendor.
The survey said iPhone 5s users consume seven times as much data as benchmark iPhone 3G users in developed markets, and 20 times as much data as benchmark iPhone 3G users in developing markets, said the JDSU survey.
In 2010, 2011 and 2012, users of Apple iPhone 4, iPhone 4s and iPhone 5, respectively consumed maximum data.
Last year, Samsung Galaxy S III users closed the gap. iPhone 5s usage is the most intense witnessed to date, keeping Apple users at the top of the chart.
The study found that iPhone 5s users demand seven times as much data as the benchmark iPhone 3G users in developed markets (20 percent increase on iPhone 5) and 20 times as much data in developing markets (50 percent increase on iPhone 5). Beyond the 5s, Apple products account for six of the top ten hungriest handsets, along with two Samsung products, one HTC and one Sony.
When it came to uplink data, Samsung users are at the top of the chart. Galaxy S4 users produced and uploaded five times as much data as iPhone 3G users in developed markets and 11 times as much data in developing markets.
Each new generation of iPhone has resulted in increases in data consumption of between 20-40 percent — even today when data use is common. Though interestingly, users of the more economically-priced iPhone 5c consume data in the range between that of the iPhone 4s and 5 users.
In 2011, the survey found that 1 percent of 3G users consumed half of the entire downlink data. In 2012, the data showed that 1 percent of 3G users still consumed about half of the data, even as some of the data hogs moved to 4G/LTE.
This year, the research reveals 0.1 percent of 4G users consume more than half of the entire LTE downlink data. As such, 4G users are 10 times more data hungry than 3G users, of whom 1 percent still consume half of the 3G downlink data.
Users of the fourth generation iPads have shown themselves to be the most data-hungry amongst tablets, consuming almost 40 percent more data than last year’s hungriest device, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1.
The study also reveals that the new iPad mini is seen to be mini in name and in data consumption, consuming 20 percent less data than second- and third-generation iPads.
The study revealed that developed and developing markets alike had similar overall rankings of data hungry smartphones, with the iPhone 5s topping both charts, demonstrating the global nature of the smartphone market. However, the report found that the number and variety of data cards and dongles was lower in developing markets, and tablet devices relatively rare.
Developing markets saw higher data consumption by flagship smartphone users, relative to the iPhone 3G standard. This appears to be driven by two factors. First, the older iPhone 3G has relatively lower data consumption per user in developing markets. Second, the absence of other high-volume data devices, such as data cards and tablets, means that users will consume more data via flagship smartphones.
Suggestions for telecoms
This report provides new insight on how operators can deal with skyrocketing data use. For example, the fact that 0.1 percent of 4G subscribers consume half of the data may prompt operators to identify extreme users. This, in turn, may make it easier to deploy small cell and Wi-Fi access points to ease network congestion. However, the accuracy of these placements should be of paramount importance to operators due to the limited range of the small cells and Wi-Fi.
JDSU suggests that just as femtocells were placed in homes to satisfy network coverage objectives on a subscriber-by-subscriber basis, small cells and Wi-Fi access points may be placed to satisfy network capacity objectives on a subscriber-by-subscriber basis.
