Texting on the decline as mobile users move to 4G

The number of text messages sent by mobile phone users in Ireland continues to decline as consumers ditch SMS messaging for mobile-based apps, according to new research that also shows a rise in the number of consumers switching to 4G services.

The Communication Regulator’s quarterly report reveals that Ireland’s mobile penetration rate stood at 124.9 per cent at the end of September with 5.75 million subscriptions, up 0.2 per cent on the previous quarter.

The total number of text messages sent by mobile users fell by 19.5 per cent over the year as more consumers turn to free apps such as WhatsApp and Viber. The number of multimedia messages (MMS) sent declined by 1 per cent compared to the same quarter a year earlier but was up slightly on the previous three months.

ComReg’s study shows that 9 per cent of all mobile subscribers have now actively used 4G mobile networks, contributing to a 75.7 per cent jump in data volumes in the year to the end of September to reach 18,476 terabytes.

Mobile voice traffic rose by 2.3 per cent compared to the same quarter last yeaar but fixed voice traffic declined by 7.1 per cent.

The switch to 4G failed to benefit mobile operators greatly however. Mobile ARPU (average revenue per user) rose to €25.4 per month in the third quarter, up from €24.9 per month in the previous quarter but sill down on the €25.8 per month recorded for the same three-months a year earlier.

The latest report also shows a rise in broadband subscriptions and speeds in the third quarter. Fixed broadband subscriptions rose by 1.2 per cent on the previous quarter with a 6.9 per cent. According to ComReg there were 1.24 million broadband subscriptions in Ireland at the end of September with the estimated household penetration rate - comprising both fixed and mobile subscriptions - estimated at 67 per cent.

More than 40 per cent of all broadband subscriptions at the end of the quarter were equal or greater than 30 Mbps, up from 32.5 per cent for the same quarter a year earlier.

The number of fixed phone subscriptions increased by 4.8 per cent over the year to the end of September to reach 1.58 million.