Ericsson: Mobile Video to Grow 45% a Year

According to Ericsson's (NASDAQ:ERIC) interim mobility report, video dominates mobile traffic growth and is forecast to grow by around 45% annually through to 2020. Over the next six years, total mobile video traffic is expected to grow 17 times more than it did in the last six years. Prominent factors driving the growth include increased number of video-enabled devices, larger screens, and better picture quality. Another prominent driver is that video is becoming an increasing part of online content, such as news, advertisements, and social media.

The report also indicates a decline in the numbers watching broadcast TV and an increase in those watching streaming video services. Ericsson ConsumerLab expects that this year for the first time, more people will watch streamed on-demand video than broadcast TV over a weekly period in some markets. Drivers for the change include the advent of 4G technology, the growth in smartphone and tablet usage, and a shift in consumer behavior toward on-demand services that offer cross-platform access to content.