Ericsson Research on Mobile Internet Growth and Application Consumption in Indonesia

From the results of research conducted by Ericsson, it was found that there were an addition of 10 million mobile internet users in Indonesia in the first quarter of 2017. This figure makes Indonesia the third country with the highest mobile internet growth in the world, after India (+43 million) and China (+24 million). ).

Globally, there were 107 million new internet users, an increase of 70% compared to the first quarter of 2016. On average, Ericsson recorded an additional 1 million users every day.

Ericsson predicts, if this additional growth is stable every year, it is predicted that by 2022 there will be 9 billion mobile internet users in the world. This figure exceeds the total population of the earth from the current about 7,5 billion people.

Vice President of Network Solutions Ericsson Indonesia Ronni Nurmal said, for Indonesia, the addition of this number is an opportunity for software developers to produce goods that are added value for internet users.

This makes the capability of Indonesians to enjoy the internet to increase. Internet users are no longer just consumers who only use telephone, sms, or access social media applications from abroad.

Ronni gave an example, one real example that can be applied is an application for farmers who have become internet users. The application has additional functions that can support their work, such as monitoring food prices and selling their products online.

"This application has added value for farmers to support their daily lives for the better. This is actually an opportunity for developers in the future," said Ronni during the presentation of the June 2017 Ericsson Mobility Report, Thursday (7/7).

Consumption of local applications is still minimal

Still from the same report, Ericsson said that of the top 100 applications in Indonesia, it seems that applications from abroad are still dominated. While the rest, only 12% are locally made applications.

These types of applications, such as dictionaries, banking, mobile service providers, news, shopping, transportation and travel.

"We all have to encourage local applications to be more advanced. I don't expect the percentage to reach 50% [the portion compared to foreign applications]. However, from the large internet users in Indonesia, this should be an opportunity to create unique applications that will benefit Indonesians themselves ."

In addition, it is a business opportunity for cellular operators to become new uses, as part of efforts to make Indonesia more digital. For example, developing applications related to IoT-connected devices.

Data consumption will be controlled by video content

Ericsson also predicts, as the number of internet users increases, it will have an impact on increasing data consumption. Until the first quarter of 2017, as much as 50% of mobile internet consumption was contributed by video content. Ericsson predicts that by 2022, 75% of the data will come from video content.

In terms of data consumption per month, it is predicted to increase. From the current average of around 2,1 GB per month, it will be 12 GB. When calculated with all internet users globally, current data consumption will be around 8,8 exabytes. By 2022 it will explode to 71 exabytes.

"Telecommunication operators must prepare the capacity to meet the needs of mobile internet. For the government, they must also issue appropriate and easy regulations," he concluded.