Wi-Fi data traffic is exploding as users access greater amounts of data-intensive Web services and as wireless network operators offload greater amounts of traffic to Wi-Fi networks. In the U.S. in 2Q 2013, the amount of data consumed over Wi-Fi was four times the amount consumed over cellular (2197 Mbps vs. 473 Mbps per month), according to mobile data and network analytics company WeFi.
WeFi has been collecting data on Wi-Fi and cellular network speeds nationwide since the beginning of the year. The results, including digital maps representing stats such as data offloading by state, are presented using an interactive dashboard powered by SiSense.
Among WeFi’s key findings:
- Wi-Fi bandwidth is increasing 14.5% per quarter
- Cell bandwidth increase of 10.7% per quarter
- Instagram app usage spiked by 78% from Q1, Facebook seeing only a 15% increase
WeFi foresees Wi-Fi’s role in delivering Web services continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Moreover, the company “is confident we’re going to see Wi-Fi speeds exceed 120 Mbps by 2020.”
