The document discusses the power of mobile broadband and its growth. It notes that the U.S. leads in mobile broadband evolution and LTE adoption. Mobile data usage among U.S. consumers rose 89% in the past year as people connect more through data than voice. Traditionally underserved communities like Hispanics and African Americans have higher smartphone adoption rates and do more internet browsing on mobile. However, increasing mobile data traffic risks exceeding available spectrum by 2014 unless more spectrum is freed up or innovation continues.

1. The Power of Mobile Broadband
Diane Smith,
Mobile Future Advisor
www.mobilefuture.org
Broadband Task Force
Duluth, MN
November 13, 2012

3. Mobile Future
Members Include:

4. The U.S. is a Leader in Mobile
Broadband Evolution
• The U.S. boasts 69% of the
world’s LTE subscribers,
making us the global test
bed for LTE apps and
services
• 80% of smartphones sold
worldwide run on operating
systems developed by U.S.
companies

5. Connecting Like Never Before:
Mobile Usage and Growth 2012
2007
1987
Voice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Data
Average mobile data usage rose 89%
in the past year for U.S. consumers

6. Broadband Usage in Traditionally
Underserved Communities
• The Hispanic community is 17% more likely that non-
Hispanic Whites to use their mobile phones to access the
Internet
• Hispanics and African-Americans have a higher
smartphone adoption rate than non-Hispanic Whites
• 51% of African-American mobile phone users do most of
their Internet browsing on their mobile device
• Internet usage among Americans over 65 has more than
tripled in the past 10 years

7. Wireless Consumer Demand and
the Spectrum Crunch
• Almost 55% of mobile devices are now smartphones, which
generate 35 times more data traffic than basic feature cell phones
• And tablets generate 121 times the data traffic
• AT&T reports a 20,000% increase in data traffic since the iPhone
debuted in 2007
• Cisco predicts an 18-fold
increase in data traffic by
2016
• By 2016 tablets will generate
as much traffic as the entire
global mobile network of
2012

8. Spectrum Demand May
Exceed Supply in 2014
Demand Versus Spectrum
(Normalized)
2.5
2
No New Spectrum
1.5
Partially Increased
Spectrum
1
Fully increased
Spectrum
0.5
Demand
0
Rysavy Research 2011

9. Where do we go from here?
• Support national and state-wide goals for high-
speed mobile access and adoption
• Encourage policies aimed at freeing up more
spectrum for mobile broadband
• Promote continued investment and innovation

10. Thank you!
Diane Smith
www.mobilefuture.org
Broadband Task Force
Duluth, MN
November 13, 2012