ABI Research, a provider of research and analysis in global connectivity and other emerging technologies said in a recent release of its market data that the size of data packages offered by mobile operators are getting bigger. Based on its Mobile Data Price Tracker Market Data which is part of its Mobile Deployments, CAPEX and Traffic Market Research report, ABI Research said that the number of countries in which mobile operators offer monthly data plans sized between 8GB to 10GB have grown from 21% in the first quarter of this year to 83% in the second quarter.
One of the main drivers for this increase is the roll out of shared data plans under which more plan 'members' especially family members and more devices are bundled with per connection access fee and a cumulative data allowance that encourages more people, especially those from bigger households to consume more data, hence resulting in more uptake on larger data plans. The increased usage of data-only devices such as tablets and phablets is one of the major contributor towards this trend.
ABI Research's report also highlighted that the price of data plans has been going up steadily, citing the increase of 11.31% on monthly data tariffs in top 20 markets it studied. At the same time, unlimited data plans are slowly making their way out, falling from 50% of all plans in the first quarter to only 27.6% of the second quarter, it added.
"This shift in monthly data quota provides an opportunity for mobile operators to actually revise their pricing strategy."
- Lian Jye Su, research associate, ABI Research
“A shift toward shared data plans signals the mobile operator’s strategy to tap into family-centric consumption. Personal mobile plans have reached market saturation and mobile operators are keen to search for other growth segments in the market.”
- Jake Saunders, VP and Practice Director for Forecasting, ABI Research
