Report: DNA’s customers are the most active users of mobile data in Europe – growing data usage requires an energy-efficient network

“People have a growing need to remain connected to each other and to online services wherever their daily lives and work take them. We’ve invested substantially in our mobile network in recent years. Research shows that DNA is the preferred choice for customers who need a lot of mobile data,” says Jarkko Laari, Director, Radio Networks at DNA.

From January through June 2024, DNA customers used an average of 55.4 GB of data per month per subscription, with year-on-year growth of around 13%. The report also reveals that DNA’s average price per gigabyte for mobile data was the lowest in the Nordic countries.

Ever more work and leisure tasks are being performed with mobile devices

Growth in mobile data usage is driven by the widespread adoption of the fast 5G network as well as the growing popularity of AI apps, cloud services and video content. Due to mobile and hybrid work, work tasks and participation in meetings are increasingly often handled with mobile devices, increasing the need for high-quality mobile data.

“Thanks to 5G technology, data-heavy tasks can also be carried out wirelessly. Being able to handle an ever-increasing range of tasks on mobile devices wherever you happen to be – both during work and leisure – is convenient. We believe that this trend will continue and foresee further growth in data use in the future,” says Laari.

"For example, the data usage of DNA's corporate subscriptions has increased by over 25 percent compared to last year. Mobile data is increasingly becoming a more common and certainly safer option than open Wi-Fi networks, both in Finland and abroad," says Mari Eklund, Vice President of Communication Solutions for DNA's corporate business.

Launched in late 2019, the 5G update of DNA’s mobile network will be completed by the end of 2024. At that time, almost 100% of Finns will be covered by the 5G network. Although data usage is now at a record high, 5G technology is improving the energy efficiency of the mobile network, and energy consumption per gigabyte transferred will continue to decrease.

“Our high-quality mobile network is widely available and the data volumes indicate that people want to use it. The average speed of DNA’s mobile network has only improved, even though the load on the network has grown as 5G network use has increased,” says Laari.

Continued growth in data use is not an end in itself

The rising use of data has also posed legitimate concerns about the well-being of the environment and people. All data use consumes energy. If this energy is produced using fossil fuels, the growth trend will also accelerate global warming. All the electricity directly purchased by DNA is generated by wind power, and DNA also seeks to influence the origin of the electricity used at the properties it rents. On the other hand, teleworking enabled by good network connections can reduce the emissions caused by commuting.

That said, excessive use of smart devices has also been linked to issues such as a decline in social relationships and cognitive abilities. 39% of the Digital Life survey respondents feel that their ability to concentrate is compromised by continuous use of digital services. DNA is organising a Disconnect Day on 20 October 2024 to encourage people to pay attention to their smart device usage and to occasionally disconnect.

“Growth in the use of mobile data isn’t expected to slow down rapidly in the foreseeable future. However, concerns about how the use of smart devices impacts both us and our environment must be taken seriously. Continued growth in data usage isn’t an end in itself – it’s important that we use data for things that promote environmental and human well-being,” says Laari.

*Source: Tefficient Industry analysis #2 2024 research report: https://tefficient.com/mobile-data-operators-1h-2024/. Tefficient is an independent international analysis, benchmarking and consulting company in the telecommunications industry. The report was sponsored by DNA.

Media enquiries:

Jarkko Laari, Director, Radio Networks, DNA Plc, tel. +358 (0)44 044 4949, jarkko.laari@dna.fi

DNA Corporate Communications, tel. +358 (0)44 044 8000, communications@dna.fi

More information about Disconnect Day (in Finnish only):  www.dna.fi/alyvapaapaiva
DNA’s sustainability report: https://corporate.dna.fi/investors/reports/annual-reports-and-csr-reports