Wireless Network Data Traffic: Worldwide Trends and Forecasts 2023-2029

"The slowing rate of cellular data traffic growth worldwide has implications for network investment, spectrum requirements and asset monetisation; understanding whether growth will accelerate again is critical."

The launch of 5G networks was widely expected to spur a new period of reaccelerating cellular data traffic growth, but so far that has not happened. This report and its annex provide forecasts for wireless data traffic worldwide and in key regions, with analysis of traffic from handsets and fixed-wireless access (FWA) services.

This report provides:

• 5 -year forecasts of wireless data traffic worldwide, in 8 regions and 20 selected countries
• analysis of the key trends in, and drivers and inhibitors of, data traffic worldwide and in each region
• analysis of the impact of 5G on data traffic
• analysis of the interplay of cellular and Wi-Fi traffic
• analysis of the traffic growth from handsets versus FWA connections.

Report segmentation:

About the authors:

Simon Sherrington, Research Director.

Simon leads Analysys Mason's new Transport Network Strategies research programme, and its established Telecoms Strategy and Forecast programme. He also has a remit to expand Analysys Mason's research forecasts and cross-programme thought leadership.

He has nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, having worked as an analyst, consultant, market researcher and publisher. He has commented and advised on many different aspects of the telecoms business during that time. His CV includes a wide range of assignments covering fixed and mobile devices and networks, operator strategies, infrastructure evolution, as well projects encompassing retail and wholesale, and business and consumer services.

Simon joined Analysys Mason from Innovation Observatory, a business he founded in 2005 to help clients working in the telecoms, media, IT and environmental technology sectors. Prior to that, Simon worked for Analysys Mason in a number of roles including Head of Custom Research, and early in his career he worked for CIT Publications (at the time a publisher of telecoms and media reports). Simon holds an LLB from the University of Exeter.

Stephen Burton, Research Analyst.

Stephen is a Research Analyst in the London office. He joined Analysys Mason after graduating from Durham University with an MA in international relations.