The growth rate in mobile traffic has picked up – and AI is not the driver

01 July 2026 | Research

Rupert Wood

Article | PDF | Wireless Infrastructure


"Increased growth in mobile data traffic from the second half of 2025 onwards may paradoxically be the consequence of low demand and uncongested network conditions."

The growth rate in mobile data traffic rose in many countries in the second half of 2025, and early signs are that this trend has continued into early 2026. This article explores four hypotheses as to why this surprising development is happening.

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Author

Rupert Wood

Research Director, expert in infrastructure, fixed networks and wholesale