Mobile Data Revenue Hit $100B

Unstrung covers new research from Informa Telecoms & Media that states "global revenues from mobile data services surpassed US$100 billion for the first time last year. The figure of US$102.1 billion is equal to US$52.9 per every mobile subscription throughout the year or US$4.4 per month. Strong data revenue growth has continued into 2006, with the 1Q figure of US$28.4 billion up 17% year-on-year.

Kester Mann at Informa said, "The industry is comfortably on track to exceed last year's record total. Data revenues continue to be driven by the ongoing deployment of advanced technologies, improvements in handsets and global subscription growth."

According to Informa Telecom & Media, the 2005 figure "is on a par with the combined fees paid so far by European operators for 3G licences (US$102.3 billion)."