Verizon Wireless And Sprint Carry Most Data Says ABI Research

When reports broke last year about how iPhone users were overwhelming AT&T's network, some people may have concluded that AT&T was carrying them most data traffic. According to ABI Research, that's not true. Based on its studies, ABI Research concluded that Verizon Wireless and Sprint carried more data last year than AT&T. Together, Verizon Wireless and Sprint customers generated 63% of the mobile network data traffic in the US.

Practice director Dan Shey comments on the traffic, “Interestingly AT&T had the most activated data devices in 2009. But it is laptop mobile data connections that have the most impact on operator data traffic levels. Mobile broadband laptop connections to Verizon and Sprint each far exceed AT&T’s laptop connections.”

Verizon is expected to maintain the top data traffic position over the next five years. ABI Research expects AT&T’s share of mobile data traffic to increase and rise to the number two position by 2012. Sprint, T-Mobile, and all other operators will hold the final three spots for top mobile data traffic. Although the operator traffic distribution share will change, all operators are expected to see an increase in mobile data traffic levels by eightfold from 2010 through 2014.