Data revenues to more than double across the Indian subcontinent by 2013

The Indian subcontinent’s swelling appetite for media-rich content and services is expected to propel operator-billed data revenues from US$3 billion in 2008 to more than US$8.3 billion in 2013, a new report from Juniper Research forecasts.

Mobile TV and music downloads in the region are forecast to add substantial data revenues over the next five years.

Entitled The Indian Subcontinent Report covering Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the study forecasts the region’s burgeoning population will bolster mobile user numbers, rising from 431 million in 2008 to nearly 740 million in 2013.

Juniper Research found that ringtones are currently the most profitable service across the region, though games, mobile TV and full-track downloads are expected to contribute sizeable revenue streams by the end of the forecast period. Mobile browsing revenues also continue to rise progressively.

Report author Windsor Holden asserted that with the limited availability and relatively high cost of fixed broadband Internet across the subcontinent, the mobile handset has becoming the de facto means of accessing Internet services.

“Regional operators were among the first to realise that low data pricing was central to encouraging service adoption, and it has paid dividends for them,” Holden commented.
The report also observed that growth would be further driven as 3G networks were deployed, although noting that in India, 3G services are unlikely to be launched until 2009.

While blended ARPU levels are expected to decline steadily across the region, Holden forecasts the sharp fall in voice ARPU will be partially offset by the steady increase from data services, and that India will provide the largest share of cumulative regional revenues over the forecast period, followed by Pakistan.