Carriers Benefit From WiFi as Data Offloading Strategy

Benefits Include Reduced Capex and Opex by Offloading as Much as 70 Percent of Data-Intensive Traffic to WiFi; Significantly Improved Customer Experience

SAN BRUNO, Calif., June 21, 2011 — Thanks to the growing popularity of smartphones, tablets and mobile apps, data usage has skyrocketed, doubling last year in North America alone. In many markets, data has grown so quickly that it has saturated the cellular network, resulting in difficulty using data-intensive applications and dropped calls. Thankfully, WiFi steps in here as a megatrend carriers embrace as a data offloading strategy.

To help carriers with their offloading strategy, Devicescape created the Devicescape Virtual WiFi Network, a global WiFi network with more than 100 million WiFi hotspots and growing rapidly. Carriers are using the Network to offload data from their cellular network to WiFi.

To benchmark offloading rates, Devicescape looked at data-roaming patters of 1 million smartphones running over Devicescape’s Virtual WiFi Network. These smartphones, with built-in technology that intelligently offloads data from cellular to WiFi, illustrated the following:

  • On average, each handset performed eight WiFi sessions a day or 240 in a month, averaging an offload of 35 percent to 40 percent.
  • High-usage devices saw rates as high as 70 percent.
  • The aggregate data offload was more than 100MB per device per month — a total of 100 terabytes.

The data presented by Devicescape illustrates how service providers are currently using WiFi to provide a better customer experience. Additionally, by turning to WiFi, carriers have been able to significantly reduce their capital and operating expenditure.

“Offloading to WiFi and the Devicescape Virtual WiFi Network in particular enables operators to take complete advantage of a massive, global WiFi network. By turning to WiFi, carriers can provide their customers with the ultimate experience and save money,” said Dave Fraser, CEO of Devicescape. “Devicescape is honored to be working with carriers from around the world.”

Top Devicescape WiFi Hotspots by Country

The Devicescape Virtual WiFi Networks currently has 1 million hotspots, and it continues to grow daily. Hotspot locations are worldwide with a concentration in dense, urban areas. Most popular countries to date are: 

  • United States
  • China
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • Germany
  • Russia
  • South Korea
  • Japan
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

Devicescape has made available a more detailed fact sheet that can be viewed at www.devicescape.com/offload

About Devicescape

Devicescape is the leader in device WiFi and a pioneer in virtual WiFi aggregation. The company works with device manufacturers and service providers to ensure a seamless WiFi experience.

For device manufacturers, Devicescape’s Easy WiFi technology enables devices to connect to WiFi instantly and seamlessly.

For service providers, Devicescape’s Easy WiFi enables them to offload traffic from data intensive cellular networks to the Devicescape Virtual WiFi Network as well as other WiFi partner networks.

Headquartered in San Bruno, California, the company is privately held and backed by leading venture capital companies including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, August Capital, Enterprise Partners, and Jafco. To learn more, please visit www.devicescape.com.