Global mobile data has nearly tripled in the last year, growing more than 10 times faster than voice, says Ericsson. According to Ericsson statistics, global measured mobile data traffic stands at nearly 225,000 terabytes per month as of the second quarter of 2010.

Mobile data traffic continues to grow exponentially even after the historic cross over point in December 2009 when data first exceeded voice, as reported by Ericsson earlier this year. Mobile broadband currently accounts for only 10% of total mobile subscriptions but a rapidly increasing majority of the traffic. 

"The growth and benefits of mobile broadband are undeniable. The business model for mobile broadband is becoming one of increasing profitability and competitive differentiation through superior quality of service. Operator's focus on end-to-end converged IP networks is key to addressing the dramatic traffic growth, while reducing costs and improving the user experience. For consumers, mobile broadband is transforming the way we communicate and prosper as a society," said Ericsson's Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer & President of Ericsson Silicon Valley HÃ¥kan Eriksson.

Ericsson recently announced the delivery of its two millionth base station (out of an industry-wide installed base of five million) and expects to extend its global leadership in mobile broadband. Ericsson say that it is the only supplier participating in all major 4G/LTE network builds currently underway. Today there are over five billion mobile subscriptions worldwide and Ericsson envisions 50 billion connected devices by 2020.