CTIA: U.S. Wireless Data Spending Rose 39% in 2009

Wireless data service revenues in the U.S. for the year 2008 rose to more than $32 billion, according to a semi-annual industry survey published by the CTIA Wireless Association.. This represents a 39% increase over 2007, when data revenues totaled $23.2 billion. Wireless data revenues for 2008 amounted to nearly 22% of all wireless service revenues, and represent what consumers spend on non-voice services.


According to the survey, more than one trillion text messages were carried on carriers' networks in the U.S. in 2008 -- breaking down to more than 3.5 billion messages per day. That's almost triple the number from 2007, when 363 billion text messages were transmitted. Wireless subscribers are also sending more pictures and other multi-media messages with their mobile devices, with 15 billion MMS messages reported for 2008, up from 6 billion the year before.


As of December 2008, the industry survey recorded more than 270 million wireless users in the U.S. This represents a year-over-year increase of nearly 15 million subscribers. The industry's 12-month record for subscriber growth was reached in 2005, when 25.7 million new users came online.


Other highlights of the survey include: wireless customers using more than 2.2 trillion minutes in 2008, an increase of 100 billion minutes from 2007, and record-breaking six-month wireless service revenues of more than $75 billion with annual service revenues reaching $148 billion by year-end 2008.


"The new survey results clearly prove that mobile broadband services are enabling more Americans to grow their world like never before. Wireless technology is an integral part of everyday life for more than 87% of the U.S. population; changing and improving the way we connect and interact with the world around us," said Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA -The Wireless Association. "The wireless industry consistently evolves, innovates, competes and grows every year at a rapid pace, and 2008 has carried on this remarkable trend."

The CTIA Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey results were released at International CTIA WIRELESS 2009 in Las Vegas.
http://www.ctia.org