Wireless – It’s All about Data

GigaOM has a piece up today on data revenues for US wireless carriers. With a saturated voice market, data is where the money is, and new numbers out from Chetan Sharma Consulting prove just how much 3G data use is contributing to the wireless bottom line. According Chetan Sharma, data spending was up to $8.2 billion in Q2 2008, accounting for 21% of total wireless carrier revenue. The average revenue per user (ARPU) jumped by 5%, even with a 5-cent decline in voice ARPU.

Access to the Internet on mobile phones is driving data revenues, and that’s exactly what’s pushing cable operators into the wireless space. Time Warner Cable’s Glenn Britt said as much back in May when he admitted that wireless voice didn’t interest him particularly, “…more interesting to me is the notion of broadband wireless.”

WiMAX and LTE are going to heat up the data market for both telcos and cablecos. It’s a race to get these 4G (or near-4G) technologies deployed, and that’s great news for consumers.