ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile are battling for subscribers — consumers say network speed is key to winning them over (VZ, TMUS, T, S)

A high-speed mobile network beats out unlimited data as the “must-have” feature for consumers, according to BII's exclusive Digital Telecom Consumer Survey.

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please .

A high-speed mobile network beats out unlimited data as a “must-have” feature for consumers, according to BI Intelligence’s exclusive Digital Telecom Consumer Survey.

Overall, 84% of consumers said that a high-speed mobile network is a need-to-have offering when selecting a wireless provider — well above the 68% who said unlimited data. The results are surprising considering that unlimited data is the focus of most carriers' mobile offerings.

Here's why consumers now value network speed over unlimited data:

ADVERTISEMENT
  • Consumers are viewing more and more video content on mobile, and that means they need more data.
  • according to
  • To meet consumer demand, carriers are bringing back unlimited data packages.
  • lost
  • Mobile video consumption relies on data and network speed — since consumers have access to unlimited data, network speed has come to forefront of demand.
  • now consider a high-speed network the must-have feature.
  • So although consumers value unlimited data, network speed may be more important.

Additionally, telecoms' unlimited data plans actually do have limits — to offer these plans, telecoms throttle network speeds. Carriers are struggling to maintain network quality while meeting the growing demands of their unlimited data subscribers, according to a report by Open Signal. Some telecoms, like Verizon and AT&T, have opted to offer unlimited data plans that deliver high-bandwidth mobile content, like mobile video, at reduced speeds, to stave off the strain caused by growing mobile video consumption. Throttling likely exacerbates consumers' existing demand for faster network speeds.

While 5G, the next generation of mobile networking technology, will support the boom in streaming mobile video, it's still a long ways off. 5G technology is expected to increase mobile network capacity by 1,000 in 10 years compared with today’s 4G networks, according to estimates from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In the meantime, carriers will continue to find ways to accommodate growing demand for mobile video to win subscribers.

To receive stories like this one directly to your inbox every morning, sign up for the Apps and Platforms newsletter. Click here to learn more about how you can gain risk-free access today.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT