Mobile data use set for 3-fold rise in coming years

Mobile data usage around the world will increase three-fold by 2017 with the global proliferation of smartphones, a study by a U.S. research firm suggests. Strategy Analytics is projecting current overall data usage will jump from 5 exabytes of data per year today to more than 21 exabytes per year by 2017, Venture Beat reported Wednesday. The increase in data use will be driven by Web browsing, video and music streaming, games and other apps, Strategy Analytics said. "Data traffic has been almost doubling annually as smartphone penetration has increased and attractive, compelling media services have launched," David MacQueen, executive director for apps and media at Strategy Analytics, wrote in the company's blog. Mobile data traffic to and from handsets has been the result of a growing installed base of smartphones, affordable data plans and consumer demand for mobile access to the web and video content, he said.