Free flash research note

In 2016 mobile data volume consumption per person in Finland is set to exceed fixed-line broadband volume consumption per person in Germany. Anecdotal evidence reported by WDR (German public media, link) indicated that younger users are frustrated by very restrictive smartphone plan volume caps.

• Total mobile data volume transferred in Finland (5.4 million population) in 2015 was 627 thousand terabytes (93% YoY growth)
• Total mobile data volume transferred in Germany (83 million population) in 2015 was 591 thousand terabytes (50% YoY growth)
• Total fixed-line broadband internet-access data volume transferred in Germany in 2015 was 11500 thousand terabytes (21% YoY growth)
• In Finland 9.7 gigabyte mobile data volume was transferred in 2015 per person per month. In Germany 11.5 gigabyte fixed-line internet-access data volume was transferred per person per month

Smartphone plan usage caps are restrictive in Germany in international (EU and OECD) comparison (DFMonitor The State of 4G Pricing - 1st Half 2016)