| |December 20169CIOReviewThe Ericsson report indicated that total mobile data traffic is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 45 percent.will not make any traditional phone calls in a given week. They are replacing traditional voice calls for a combination of messaging (including SMS), voice and video services delivered `over the top (OTT)'. A couple of years ago only about 11 percent used these OTT communication services. It is not just private conversations that are being disrupted. An app can replace the calls we would have formerly made to order a take-away, request a taxi, book an appointment or make a bank transfer. Instant Messaging (IM) has seen the most rapid uptake among consumers since 2012.The Ericsson report indicated that total mobile data traffic is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 45 percent. This is forecast to result in a ten-fold increase in total traffic for all devices by the end of 2021. North America has the world's highest monthly data usage per active smartphone subscription. This trend will continue in the coming years. In 2021, monthly smartphone data usage per active subscription in North America (22 GB) will be 1.2 times that of Western Europe (18 GB) and 3 times that of Asia Pacific (7 GB). Western Europe will experience a nine fold growth in monthly smartphone data usage per user between 2015 and 2021. Due to the growth in the number of subscriptions, Asia Pacific will have the largest share of total smartphone traffic in 2021.China alone will add 210 million mobile subscriptions between the end of 2015 and 2021. What is even more interesting in this trend is that the emergence of the data exclusive generation is happening at an extremely early stage. I have noticed that in most affluent or even middle class homes, children are being given tablets as a learning or entertainment device to children. At times it is even weaning them away from watching TV.The device, the tablet in most cases, is the child's first communication gadget. More often than not the device comes with a WiFi capability and can access the Internet, but lacks a cellular connection therefore has no capability to make phone calls. Children are using these devices for messaging, downloading games, using apps, taking pictures and other activities which consume data only. So by the time they progress to own a smartphone, their minds are already conditioned to a data only environment as the default communication system, with limited need for voice communication. No wonder I see young couples in a park texting while sitting next to each other.
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