Nokia Solutions and Networks’ MBit Index study, an annual report on mobile broadband performance in India, reveals a rise of 87 per cent in data traffic generated by 2G and 3G services during 2013, driven by strong 3G growth. According to the study, 3G data traffic leapt by 146 per cent, surpassing the world average that is roughly doubling every year. 2G data traffic continues to stabilize, growing by 59 per cent over the same period.

The study states that the mobile data traffic generated by 3G services more than doubled in India in 2013, a rate much higher than growth seen in other parts of the world where mobile broadband data is expanding at 100 per cent on average. This trend is in line with NSN’s Technology Vision 2020 that mobile networks will need to be readied to profitably deliver one gigabyte of personalized data per user per day by 2020.

NSN’s MBit Index also shows that 3G users continue to consume more data on average than 2G users. In December 2013, a 3G user consumed 532 megabyte of data compared to 146 megabyte consumption over 2G. In some of the major urban centers the average data consumption per user is as high as one gigabyte per month, indicating the rising popularity and uptake of 3G across India. In addition, premium tariff reductions in 3G services in early 2013 led to an increased migration of high end 2G customers to 3G.

Research in ‘Top 50’ cities in all category circles reveals that 3G coverage in India is still limited and requires focused investments to achieve the data performance users demand.

Sandeep Girotra, head of India region at NSN, said, “India is recording mobile broadband data growth figures higher than most other markets. With the recent spectrum auctions paving the way for acceleration of mobile broadband penetration in the country, there is a great  opportunity for India to create a world-class infrastructure and improve the lives of millions of Indians. This can be achieved through a wider 3G rollout as well as through selected introduction of LTE technologies and the modernization of existing GSM networks.”