The data revealed by Nokia Siemens Networks shows a clear demand of data from end users in India according to the report, a first time 3G user consumes close to 400 MB of data every month compared to about 100 MB consumption over 2G.
The report further reveals that the recent tariff reductions in 3G services have resulted in doubling 3G data traffic month on month. It points out that affordable, high-speed broadband availability encourages heavy data consumption.
Nokia Siemens Networks collected in its MBit Index, has revealed a 54% increase in mobile data traffic in India between December 2011 and June 2012. The MBit Index report aggregates real traffic – across all the 2G (GSM and EDGE) and 3G multivendor networks managed by Nokia Siemens Networks for operators in India.
The report further reveals that data traffic generated by 3G services has increased by 78% while that of 2G services has increased by 47% during the same period. While 2G users across the country are consuming three-quarters of the total mobile data traffic on average, 3G users consume four times more data than 2G users. At this pace, Nokia Siemens Networks expects India’s mobile data consumption to double by June 2013.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ MBit Index indicates that despite low 3G device penetration, by the end of June 2012 3G has outpaced 2G in terms of data traffic growth. As 2G networks have contributed over 75% of the total data traffic generated, it is expected that 2G will continue to play a important role in providing basic mobile internet in India. Therefore, 2G is likely to remain a focus area for operators. However, with 3G data now generating 25% of the country’s total mobile data traffic, 3G is likely to be the driver for continued high data growth in the country.
Web browsing contributes 81% of 2G data traffic while downloading videos constitutes 17%. The report also indicates a steady growth of 4% in multimedia content traffic over 2G networks across the country from December 2011 to June 2012.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ MBit Index reports that 3G data use is rising in metro telecom circles while 2G use is stabilizing. It further indicates that category A and B telecom circles together contribute 72% of mobile data traffic. Category B circles have witnessed the strongest demand for 3G services with a growth rate of more than 87% between December 2011 and June 2012.
As a reader what do you think is Data the future of Telecom India? Should operator concentrate more on Data centric plans? On an average how much data do you consume monthly do let us know via comments.
Viral Patel September 3, 2012 at 4:14 pm
There are no meaning of this 2g usage, because 3g is only in big city like ahmadabad, surat, rajkot etc….
and in small town all user use 2g services. i thing only bsnl has good 3g tower in
small town also.
so there are no meaning to tell that 75% user use 2g (it is like 75% people has been forced to use 2g).
Chinmoy August 18, 2012 at 8:57 pm
we are crazy for highspeed data for sure . Once 4G is rolled out Pan India basis , NSN will publish same report by replacing 2 with 3 and 3 with 4.
@ RDB : What constitute Cat B circle ?
KaZz August 18, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Data prices should reduce further, like Rs. 100/GB. A few months back, MTNL Delhi launched an STV, which after recharging a customer would enjoy 200 GB by paying just Rs. 4999. That is only Rs. 50 a GB!!!!
KaZz August 18, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Data prices should reduce further, like Rs. 100/GB. A few months back, MTNL Delhi launched an STV, which after recharging a customer would enjoy 100GB by paying just Rs. 4999. That is only Rs. 50 a GB!!!!
sreedhar August 17, 2012 at 11:03 am
i think 3G prices should still come down, say Rs150 for 1GB.
Esmail August 16, 2012 at 9:55 pm
I believe the operator should just fix a base tariff for data at 10p/MB of high speed data, and leave it upon the subscriber to decide how much data he uses on pay as you go mode. whether the subscriber uses 10 MB per month or 3GB he should be charged for only what he uses. with this tariff the charge of 1GB of 3G data would come upto Rs. 102.4
Jay August 16, 2012 at 9:26 pm
@Ganesh
Then u can try out 128Rs pack from Aircel, which gives 500MB @ Hi-speed & then Unlimited at 128 kbps.. Moreover u get unlimited 2G data & all this for a month…
The main point where this pack betters Airtel’s plan is, even if u consume ur quota of 500MB, u still need not worry about getting charged for internet usage…
ref: telecomtalk.info/aircel-brings-competitive-3g-data-packs/93007/
chaitanya das August 16, 2012 at 8:41 pm
TATA DOCOMO have Rs.69/- for 2.5GB 2G pack, But sill the 3G pack is not for us who uses the internet at least 10-12 hours a day
Aashwinikumar August 16, 2012 at 8:36 pm
I use about 2gb of 3G data per month it is but obivious data consumption will be higher,, Half the things available over internet are not accessible at 2G speeds
guru August 16, 2012 at 8:19 pm
im on the cheapest gprs pack in karnataka 40rupeess 500mb 2g data. +200sms daily as i have wifi @home this pack is like wow for me
im using aircel
Kamal August 16, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Very precise info. Also Saurabh made a good point.
Airtel 150 plan is best of its kind (500mb 3g and 500mb 2g for 150).
Ganesh August 16, 2012 at 5:47 pm
I never used to touch 2G or 3G data packs, even with an Android phone. But now since the 3G price reduction, I recharged for 1GB pack for 3 months. But it was kinda too much as I have good connection speed with WiFi in my home. This time I recharged for 155 (Airtel) which gave me 500MB 3G and 500MB 2G data. Which is very useful. It would be great if I can get 500MB 3G data for 100 rupees.
Ganesh Srinivasan August 16, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Good show 3G data users
PD August 16, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Really you have made a point ! The statistics need not always reflect reality because the the parameters, variables and methods adopted can sway the results positively or negatively as per the need or to bolster certain arguments!
Meenu Mathew August 16, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I think 4G has better scope than 3G in India .
Tharun George August 16, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Within 2 years 3G or 4G will have more than 50% of wireless data market share. May even overtake wire line broadband.
Saurabh August 16, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Data consumption can’t really reflect the data demand.
I don’t understand what they are trying to show by analyzing data traffics? Firstly comparing 2G and 3G data consumption doesn’t hold any logic as both have a big speed difference, almost 25-40 times. Everyone knows that more data can be consumed with 3G than slow speed 2G.
As far as just data consumption is concerned, we have minute based packs like I mostly subscribe to Idea 3G Rs.7 plan with 30 mins of usage for downloading purpose and at an average 9Mbps speed or 1.25MBytes/s speed, my consumption goes to as high as 2GB in just that 30 mins. I use it around 5 times in a month and 8-10GB of data gets consumed which automatically raise the data consumption. I hardly see speed going below 950 Kilo Bytes with Idea 3G.
The thing that matters the most is revenues per subscriber being generated not the data. Volume based plans upto Rs.500 have little data. So even if someone’s subscribed to 450 plan he or she won’t go over 2GB due to limit.
On 2G, I’m active currently on Aircel 3 month unlimited pack and my last 30 days usage stands at 6.3GB and that too when I get only 128Kbps i.e 16KB constant speed. 200MB is just a matter of 3-4 hours a day. If I were getting 240-272Kbps speed on Aircel like Vodafone and Idea are providing in my area, the usage would have been around 10GB on Aircel. I can’t go for Vodafone or Idea as they have less data in 2G packs say 2GB in 147 which last for only 8 days as speed is just awesome and I hate pack with limits i.e why active on Aircel. So when you have speed, you consume more. But only surfing and casual downloading is what matters to you, 2G is best.
I think these figures must be of data consumed on mobile phones rather than tethering or dongles used on PC.
My consumption on 3G- 8GB via minute based packs.
On 2G- 6GB a month atleast. I wasn’t a download junkie but now I’m due to nature of helping work I do.
Jignesh chotaliya August 16, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Good research data,