iPhone 5 Data Consumption Is Highest In Europe

iPhone 5 users are Europe’s ‘hungriest data consumers’, while smartphone users account for more mobile traffic than those with tablets, according to a new study.

Mobile data analysis firm Arieso found that users of the most recent Apple smartphone, launched in September 2012, demanded double the amount of data than the iPhone 4S and more than four times that of the iPhone 3GS.

The iPhone 4S was named the greediest smartphone in last year’s report, with the data consumed by voice-activated personal assistant Siri believed to be a key factor.

iPhone 5 data greed

Smartphones overtook tablets for the first time in the three-year history of the study, while data sent to social networks accounted for a sixth of all data downloaded compared to one seventh this time last year.

“This is pretty counterintuitive, but it seems the capabilities of the newest smartphones – not tablets – are unleashing even greater user demand,” said study author and Arieso CTO, Michael Flanagan. “Once you move away from raw consumption statistics, the most remarkable finding is the way in which people use smartphones and tablets.”

The report says that the growing demand for data is likely to increase demands placed on existing 3G networks, but notes that LTE networks are beginning to handle some of the strain. EE currently operates the only 4G network in the UK, but other major operators are due to launch similar services later this year.

“Yet again we found that novel usage patterns, new technologies and regional idiosyncrasies are conspiring to make life increasingly difficult for mobile operators trying to meet evolving customer expectations,” added Flanagan.

How much do you know about the iPhone? Take our quiz!