4G data transfer grows quickly

4G data transfers have grown by over 40 percent in DNA's networks since the beginning of the year. 4G traffic has grown by close to 300 percent in the same period.

"Around 60 percent of all data already flows through the 4G network. Growth in data transferred via the 3G network ground to a halt early in the year. Most new terminals and sold subscriptions are 4G-enabled. In practice, this means that the related data traffic travels through the 4G net-work. We predict that, by the end of the year, 4G data transfer will more than double compared to the beginning of the year," says Pekka Väisänen, Senior Vice President, Consumer Business.

Finns are using more services that require data transfers. Use of TV and video services is a key factor in volume growth. Higher-quality terminals with bigger, higher resolution screens and higher quality data connections are increasing the use of such services.

"Our own analyses show that the average 18–25-year-old uses over 12 times more mobile data, on average, than 55–64-year-olds. Mobile data use has grown markedly among older age groups since a year ago. 55–75-year-olds use mobile data almost 200 percent more than a year ago," states Pekka Väisänen.

Meanwhile, the number of text messages has been falling for several years. The fastest change has clearly occurred in multimedia messages, which have fallen by 50 percent during the year.

"However, traditional calls remain highly popular. This is surely due to call packages and, most of all, to the fact that smart phones are used in a number of ways during work and leisure time," Väisänen comments. 

In response to customer needs and in order to provide higher data speeds, DNA is rapidly introducing its 4G LTE network in new geographical areas and is engaged in network capacity expansion. Both result in higher speeds. In addition, capacity expansion is providing a basis for introducing the next stage of development following 4G.

Expansion of the 4G LTE network will also improve the experience of people using services via the older 2G and 3G networks, whose load will be lightened by transfer to 4G. In addition, as it builds its 4G network, DNA will upgrade local 2G and 3G, which will improve the quality of connections. 4G networks typically achieve 10 times the speed of 3G and 200 times the speed of 2G networks.

Further information for the media:

Senior Vice President, DNA Consumer Business, Pekka Väisänen tel. +358 44 040 0168,
pekka.vaisanen@dna.fi

DNA Corporate Communications, tel. +358 44 044 8000, viestinta@dna.fi