New research forecasts that mobile data traffic, generated by smartphones, feature phones and tablets, will approach almost 197,000 PB (Petabytes) by 2019, equivalent to over 10 billion Blu-ray movies.
However, the research found that only 41 percent of the data generated by these devices will be carried over cellular networks by 2019, with the majority of mobile data traffic offloaded to Wi-Fi networks.
The research also estimates that the average monthly data usage by smartphone and tablet users will double over the next 4 years. Video traffic over smartphones will increase by nearly 8 times between 2014 and 2019.
Additionally, the research observed that Wi-Fi has now become an integral part of operators’ network strategy. Wi-Fi is not just being used for data offload, but also to maintain call connection quality in challenging network topologies.
Surely that data is not surprising. What is alarming, however, is that many of us may not ask ourselves what the data means for our job security. It doesn’t take a data scientist to glean one very important thing from these facts: If you don’t continue to stretch your skill set, you’ll be left behind.
That’s why it’s important to register and attend OSP EXPO® 2015. But don’t take it from me. Read why Brian Harvey, Regional President of North American Operations, Level 3, is presenting the closing keynote at OSP EXPO 2015*:
Brian Harvey
Level 3 Communications
"It’s important we connect with other people in the industry who see similar opportunities and who share similar concerns and challenges. If keynote attendees learn something about their own business from our experiences, we think that’s a good thing for their careers and for the industry as a whole."
* Read the keynote interview with Brian Harvey, Level 3, in our August issue.
