At 12 million subscribers in our country – What are they looking for in a smart phone
The number of mobile phone subscribers is exploding internationally, making the mobile phone a multi-tool in the hands of its owners, through which they can do almost anything.
In particular, according to the conclusions of the Ericsson Mobility Report (quarterly edition of the Mobility Report) during the second quarter of 2024, the total number of mobile telephony subscriptions at the international level reached 8.7 billion, an increase of 60 million compared to previous quarter. The country with the largest increase was China (+22 million), followed by India (+8 million) and Bangladesh (+2 million)
89% of mobile phone subscriptions today are of the broadband type, meaning they allow access to the Internet, apps and online services (ie via smart phones). The number of mobile broadband subscriptions in the second quarter of the year increased by 100 million, reaching a total of 7.7 billion subscriptions, up 5% year-on-year.
5G subscriptions grew by 161 million during the quarter, surpassing 1.9 billion worldwide. Now, 22% of mobile subscriptions include 5G services, the penetration of which is constantly increasing, with around 320 mobile operators offering commercial 5G2 services and over 60 having deployed or offering commercial 5G services on Standalone (SA) networks.
According to Ericsson’s report, the downward trend in 4G subscriptions continued for another quarter as users gradually migrate to 5G networks. 4G remains, however, the dominant technology in mobile subscriptions, with 5.2 billion subscriptions accounting for 60% of the total. A similar downward trend is seen in 2G and 3G subscriptions, as WCDMA/HSPA subscriptions fell by 34 million, while the decline in GSM/EDGE subscriptions reached 41 million during the quarter.
Also, Ericsson’s report notes that mobile subscription penetration reached 107% worldwide, with the number of SIM cards exceeding the human population. The number of unique mobile subscribers, however, stands at 6.5 billion. The difference between unique users and total SIMs is largely due to having multiple SIMs per person, as well as inactive subscriptions
At the same time, data traffic via mobile networks is experiencing strong growth, growing by 28 EB *exabyte )/month between Q2 2023 and the same period in 2024, rising to 151 EB/month. In particular, data traffic via mobile networks increased by 23% annually, with the corresponding increase for the first quarter of 2024 ranging at 4%.
The ever-increasing data traffic is fueled by the penetration of smartphones, the transition of users from 4G to 5G, the ever-increasing offer of data volume per subscription by providers, as well as the increasing data consumption for video usage services. It is observed that despite the reduced growth rate, the traffic increases every quarter in absolute numbers. It is worth noting that data traffic through mobile networks has doubled in just two years.
Greece: At 12 million subscribers-What are they looking for on smart phones?
In Greece, mobile phone connections today amount to approximately 12 million (with 2024 figures). If the active population of our country that uses a mobile phone is calculated, the number of connections is considered high and is on the same wavelength as the great penetration that is also at international levels.
The power and influence of smart phones in our country is also highlighted by the fact that almost all internet users (97%) prefer to connect to the internet via smartphones (Focus Bari survey). The average daily duration of connection to the Internet from a mobile phone today reaches 135 minutes
But what are the basic preferences and requirements of mobile phone subscribers regarding the choice of a device? “Consumers in Greece, as in many other countries, have specific preferences and demands from their smartphones, which are shaped by technological developments, financial possibilities and their daily needs. One of the main factors for Greek consumers is price. Most consumers in Greece are looking for devices with good performance that do not cost too much. However, surveys have shown that Greek consumers also have a preference for flagship devices and are interested in maximizing the value of the money they will spend. A smartphone that offers good performance and features at a reasonable price has a clear edge in the market. Also, users in Greece, as in Europe, put a lot of emphasis on battery life, especially for daily use that includes a lot of communication, social media and content streaming”, says Petros Drakopoulos, Marketing Director, Huawei CBG Greece.
“Technologies such as ultra-fast charging are in demand. At the same time, photography and videography are very important to Greek consumers, especially due to the popularity of social media, such as Instagram and TikTok. Smartphones with good cameras, both for photos and videos, are preferred, especially those with features such as sharpness, improved night shots and zoom. Finally, Greek consumers are looking for devices that balance performance, functionality and price, while being open to new technologies and innovations,” adds Petros Drakopoulos.
