A new survey conducted by the professional research and consulting organisation, YouGov has concluded that Mobile Broadband 3G or even 4G services would be the preferred broadband service within the next 24 months. This is set to overtake landline-based options such as ADSL and cable.
1 in 10 people questioned revealed that they used Mobile Broadband connections to go online – a surprising figure considering mobile broadband has only been available for approximately a year. However, it was not explained how those people are accessing mobile broadband, whether it’s through their own USB dongles or Wi-Fi hotspots.
The increased uptake in mobile broadband seems to be most prominent in Europe. The GSM Association (GSMA) have found that European Mobile Data services grew by 40% last year to take the net value up to 7bn Euros. The total number of 3G users has now doubled in Europe, taking the total to 112 million – a percentage of 22.5% compared to 22.5% compared to 18.4% in North America and 3.7% in the Asia-Pacific area. Operators were also found to have spent 20bn Euros enhancing their mobile networks and services.
Gillian Nightingale from Mobile Broadband Genie spoke on the recent announcement:
Several factors have been attributed to the speedy uptake of mobile broadband services including the fall in cost of 3G services, 3G handsets, 3G-enabled laptops and dongles. Some prices of mobile broadband services in Europe have even been found to be better value for money than fixed line-based broadband services.
“This latest piece of news will be sure to shock landline only ISPs to kick into action and rethink their strategies for keeping in the loop,” said Gillian Nightingale.
First up on the taking are Virgin Media. It has becoming the latest ISP to announce that it will be entering the mobile broadband market with the launch of its own USB dongle. Working alongside developer’s MVNO Virgin has confirmed that it hopes to launch the new USB modem in time for Christmas this year.
Currently, Virgin Media has a distinct absence from the mobile broadband arena and with sales figures for USB modems now surpassing 100,000 per month they will be fairly late on the market compared to their rival ISP operators.
More landline-based ISPs are expected to launch new mobile broadband services within the next 12 months.
To compare and contrast well-established and new mobile broadband service providers a comprehensive search can be carried out at http://mobile.broadbandgenie.co.uk/
Notes to editors
Broadband Genie allows users to compare broadband online, and is part of Genie Group.
Genie Group Ltd is a leading independent provider of internet comparison shopping services in the UK, and was set up in 2004 by Philip Wilkinson (co-founder of Kelkoo UK). Genie Group's unique selling point is 'the Genie', which makes personal recommendations to internet shoppers based on ground-breaking, intelligent technology. This gives Genie Group the ability to provide an enjoyable and satisfying internet shopping experience, and deliver an unmatched quality of sales leads to our affiliate merchants. Genie Group launched its flagship broadband comparison service Broadband Genie in January 2005.
More information can be found at http://mobilebroadbandgenie.co.uk. Please direct all media enquiries to Gillian Nightingale. Interviews with Philip Wilkinson can be arranged on request.
