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Just 1% of Users Consume Half of the Entire

Mobile Data Downlink CapacityThe Arieso study compares data usage across a variety of smartphones and connected devices. It finds that

users of the iPhone 4S demand three times as much data as iPhone 3G users and twice as much as iPhone 4

users, who were identified as the most demanding in the 2010 study. In a finding consistent with 2010 results,

it also shows that Google Nexus One users make twice as many data calls as iPhone 3G users.

"The introduction of increasingly sophisticated devices, coupled with growing consumer demand, is creating

unrelenting pressure on mobile networks. The capacity crunch is still a very real threat for mobile operators,

and it looks set to only get harder in 2012," commented Dr. Michael Flanagan, CTO, Arieso and study author.

"The mobile industry needs new investment and new approaches to boost network performance and managethe customer experience".

Top Line Results

The Arieso analysis compares the data consumption of users of the latest smartphones against the iPhone3G

as a "normalised benchmark". The study found that different users and different devices exhibit very different

demands on the network.

The most significant change in consumer behaviour between 2010 and 2011 data has been catalysed by the

introduction of the iPhone 4S. iPhone 4S users download 2.76 times as much data as users of the iPhone 3G.

And while an Android-powered device maintains last year's position at the top of the table for uplink data

volumes, with HTC Desire S users typically uploading 3.23 times as much data as iPhone 3G users, theiPhone 4S falls just behind in this category with a typical 3.20 times as much data uploaded.

There are some very hungry handset users, even compared to the iPhone 3G benchmark (iPhone 3G =

100%):

Data calls per subscriber:

HTC Google Nexus One: 221%

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10i: 157%

HTC Desire: 156%

Uplink data volumes:

3G Modems (various): 2654%HTC Desire S: 323%

iPhone 4S: 320%

Downlink data volumes:

3G Modems (various): 2432%

iPhone 4S: 276%

Samsung Galaxy S: 199%

"While the report provides general trends, the studies on which they're based demonstrate the importance to

operators of understanding the increased consumption each type of smartphone brings. Despite stark industry

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warnings, mobile operators are still playing 'Guess Who?' with their subscribers," continued Flanagan.

"Without adequately preparing networks to support the new generation of smart devices, operators risk

spiralling and misplaced operational expenditure and delivering a sub-par quality of experience to customers.

It's critical that operators redouble their efforts to limit the impact of this inevitable squeeze."

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