If you’re among those who struggle to make it through the month with a miserly 2GB data allowance, just wait until 5G lands.
UK network Giffgaff estimates that, by 2025, average consumers will be draining their data milkshake at a rate of 100GB/pm (98.34GB to be precise).
The firm points out the average data use was just 1.26 less than two years ago, but says consumption will mushroom when 5G speeds roll out (hopefully) in 2020.
Related: What is 5G
A predicted 3.95GB of average use at the end of the decade will jump to 45.12GB in 2021, it says.
Naturally, the wide availability of 4K video streaming will have the biggest effect. Right now the average user spends 0.83GB of data on video.
“Based on current usage rates,” the firm says, “we predict that by 2025, when streaming in 4k will be readily available for mobile users, an amazing 73.87 GB of mobile data per month will be used for video streaming.”
The role of Wi-Fi
In earlier research Giffgaff said data usage will increase by 720% overall.
When 5G rolls around, network providers will likely offer consumers larger bundles of data, which will likely come at a huge premium in the first couple of years.
Whether data usage will increase as much as Giffgaff believes is also up for serious debate.
Many users have become savvy to downloading HD video content over Wi-Fi for offline viewing. That trend is likely to intensify as users become conscious of just how much data is consumed by 4K video.
Other findings of the research are that 18-24 year-olds are more likely to go over their data allowances and that those same millennials use more than half of their allowances on social media platforms. You could have knocked us down with a feather…
Do you think you’ll be more conservative with video streaming when 5G data speeds enable 4K video? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
