With the number of mobile internet users having soared in 2011, it seems that 2012 is likely to experience further growth. With a number of phones offering users the chance to connect to the internet whilst also providing broadband services to homes and businesses, mobile internet is sure to be a phenomena of the next twelve months.
According to figures for 2011, mobile subscriptions reached almost 6 billion people with 1 billion of those being from mobile broadband services. This figure is made more remarkable when it is considered that the estimated world population is just short of 7 billion people. This means that mobile subscriptions now cover 87% of the world. The distribution of mobile broadband is also expected to help regions which experience poor or limited connectivity to receive improved services. Rural areas of the UK have been marked for this in particular, with mobile broadband being seen as one way in which to bring the internet to some of the more remote regions of the country.
The reason behind this is that mobile broadband services, unlike traditional ones, do not require a phone-line to be fitted and can therefore be easier to implement and more convenient. However, traditional broadband is also set to get an overhaul as the roll-out of fibre optic broadband is expected to increase this year, bringing improved services to a large proportion of the UK.
The rise of mobile broadband which is expected for 2012 is clearly a reflection of the UKs reliance on the internet and the services it offers. The country was ranked fifth for broadband uses out of the thirty countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) a few years ago.
More recent statistics have revealed that the UK had more than 51 million internet users in 2010, accounting for more than 80% of the population. This demonstrates how the internet is seen as a commodity by a number of British households, with the vast majority of them having access to the internet through a secure broadband connection.
Internet and broadband habits within the UK
Whilst this data details how many people have access to the internet is doesnt necessarily represent the online habits of Brits. Offering us everything from instantaneous communication to retail shopping, the internet is an exhaustive resource which offers versatility and diversity to its users.
Online shopping was particularly popular over 2011 with 86% of the UK connecting to the web over Christmas day and Boxing day. 30% of those going online were shoppers with 62% of them looking for sale products and discounted prices.
This habit is one which is predicted to grow further this year, with mobile broadband potentially playing an important role in this. Forecasts estimate that shoppers will spend 18% to 22% more for Christmas 2012 than they did last year, with 26% of online shoppers admitting they would spend more online.
Mobile internet enables individuals to connect to the internet and shop with greater convenience, allowing them to do it from almost any location. The growth predicted for online sales is therefore likely to be influenced by the role of internet capable mobiles, making 2012 the year for mobile internet.
