3UK data payload reaches 137 TB - each day

3UK claimed that 137 terabytes of data are now being carried by its UK mobile network every day, accounting for 40 per cent of the UK's overall mobile data traffic.

The company, the UK's smallest mobile operator, said that data now accounts for 97 per cent of all traffic flowing through its network, driven by the growing number of smartphone users among its customer base.

According to 3UK's director of network strategy, Phil Sheppard, the carrier's subscribers are now viewing 1.24 billion Facebook pages every month, and data downloads in October by users in the Greater London area equalled around 360 million iTunes tracks.

Commenting in his blog, as reported by Mobile Today, Sheppard said that around 60 per cent of 3UK's customers are currently smartphone owners (up from 30 per cent last year), and he expects the number to rise to at least 90 per cent during the coming year.

"It's our aim to make sure our customers have access to all the Internet they'll ever need, and as more and more of you choose a smartphone as your primary gadget, those already staggering numbers can only go one way--up," added Sheppard.

3UK has consistently marketed itself as a provider of mobile data services, and its recent decision to launch its One Plan all-you-can-eat data tariff for £18 per month with a 24 month contract is an indication of its intent in this sector.

For more:
- see this Mobile Today article
- see this Telecom Paper article (sub. req.)

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