[Juniper Research forecasts mobile data roaming revenues will comprise 40% o roaming revenues by 2017 driven by users accessing data services while abroad.]

Hampshire, UK -- A new report from Juniper Research forecasts that mobile data roaming revenues will grow by 21% per year between 2012 and 2017, reaching over $35 billion in 2017, driven by an increasing number of active data roamers using data services while abroad.

However, the report notes that the number of silent data roamers, not actively using any data services, still fear bill shock, as this continues to be markedly higher when compared to silent voice roamers. Silent roamers exercise caution or do not use voice and data services while roaming and represent a non-user segment.

Data Roaming ~ The next growth driver

Powered by the proliferation in smartphones and a dramatic growth in data usage, data roaming is being seen as a key growth driver for operators, albeit with cost-effective packages coupled with subscriber control over usage.

The report found that the majority of mobile customers were using voice services when roaming abroad, but this offered network operators little opportunity to add value or enhance services. Data roaming, on the other hand, provided operators with the opportunity to convert ‘non data’ roamers to become active data roamers by the introduction of data bundles and roaming plans.

SMS Roaming revenue to remain a modest proportion

The new report, Mobile Roaming: Challenges, Opportunities & Market Forecasts 2012-2017, observed that as data roaming revenues grow, and instant messaging apps proliferate, SMS roaming adoption and revenue growth will remain modest, relative to data and voice revenues.

Report author Nitin Bhas noted: “As data roaming costs are further reduced and smartphone owners find so-called OTT (Over-the-Top) services – such as eBuddy and Whatsapp – a cheaper alternative, the average spend per SMS roaming will decline over the forecast period”.

Other key findings include:

Total mobile roaming revenues to exceed $80bn by 2017, compared to over $46 billion this year. Western Europe will account for the highest proportion of the global mobile data roaming revenue.

The ‘The Rise of the Roaming Empire’ whitepaper is available to download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full report.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

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