Smart phones have become the hottest hand held gadgets of 2012, at least when
considering the amount of internet data they have consumed during 2012. Up till now
tablets used to be the devices which were more frequently used for accessing the internet
when compared with smart phones and mobile devices.
However, now the tables have turned with all the top three devices to consume internet
data being smart phones. rieso is an independent body which innovates in optimization of
the mobile network. Their findings show that the top three phones were the Apple iPhone
5, HTC Sensation XL and the Samsung Galaxy S3.
In 2011, only the iPhone 4 was in the top three devices; although it leaded the other two
tablets, which were the Apple iPad 2 and Apple iPad. Although this information was
produced by studying the European market, Arieso believes that a similar pattern can be
observed anywhere around the world.
This has raised a big question on the way network operators are going to handle their
customer base. Clearly, an infrastructure which can undertake more load needs to be
implemented for the future, since mobile internet data consumption is only rising with
every passing day.
Network operators need to find cost effective and efficient solutions too. This also means
that there might be many regulations set up to ensure smooth services and fair usage.The
first thing probably the telecom companies will do is set data caps on the usage. People
will different requirements will have to pay a different amount respectively.
Another thing would be to establish more base stations so that the data load in hot regions
can be distributed equally. Penalties could be given to anyone who exceeds their monthly
allowance, until a new solution for accommodating the increasing data demands can be
met easily.