The mobile penetration rate in the UK is expected to reach 152.8%, or 98 million subscriptions, by 2016 driven by the growth in data card adoption and M2M service uptake. Smartphone adoption is expected to increase by 40% by 2016, up from 50% in 2011.
“The growing demand for simultaneous data access by multiple devices, which will be met by 4G technology following the 4G license auction in 2012, will result in mobile data service revenue reaching £7.7 billion ($11.7 billion) by 2016,” said Olena Kaplan, associate analyst at Pyramid Research.
Revenue in mobile voice is also expected to generate returns in the UK up to 2016, with pay-TV and broadband internet also estimated to drive revenue growth.