The number of text messages sent by mobile users in Ireland fell by 17% in the
second quarter of this year compared to the same period of last year.
According to communications regulator ComReg's latest Quarterly Report on the
electronic communications market, a total of 1.41 billion SMS messages were
sent between April and June, as mobile users continue to shift towards
internet-based messaging services.
The report also found that the proportion of mobile users here that are
utilising next generation 4G networks has risen from 17% to 34% in the past
year.
Our thirst for data also continues to grow, with 46 petabytes of date used in
the second quarter of the year, up 11% on the previous quarter and 60% on the
second three months of last year.
However, the squeeze on mobile operators also carried on, with the report
finding that Average Revenue Per User among mobile providers fell from €24.75 a
month in the second quarter of last year to €24.51 during the same period this
year.
Traffic over fixed voice lines has fallen 6.2%, but has been partially offset
by a 2% increase in mobile voice use over the past year.
Fixed broadband subscriptions rose marginally during the period, with total
fixed and mobile broadband penetration now standing at 83%.
Broadband speeds also increased slightly, with the proportion of fixed
broadband subscriptions of 10Mbps or more now standing at 75%, up 5% in a year.
