More U.S. households (88.9 million) had mobile data plans in 2017 than wired broadband service (85.3 million), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration says.
The shift to mobile usage is not surprising. Mobile devices are used by people; while fixed connections are used by residents of homes. There are more people than homes. And there are a growing range of “mobile” devices beyond phones.
Even bigger changes could come in the 5G era, when mobile and fixed wireless plans are comparable to cabled network plans, in terms of price and speed, one might predict. Mobile substitution then might become quite significant.
Verizon estimates 30 million U.S. homes also might be candidates for a fixed wireless solution.
To be sure, use of smartphones is not 100 percent. Some 64 percent of U.S. residents used a smartphone in 2017, compared with 53 percent in 2015, and tablet use increased to 32 percent from 29 percent during the same period.
The use of wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness bands grew to eight percent.
Laptop use was unchanged at 46 percent of Americans, and desktop computer use continued to slide to 30 percent in 2017—meaning tablet use surpassed desktop computer use for the first time in 2017
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