50% of mobile video traffic to be HD by 2018

According to Openwave Mobility, high definition mobile video streaming is expected to reach at least 50% of the overall video traffic by the end of next year.

The company analyzed data aggregated from mobile traffic management company which indicate that HD video currently accounts for 38% of mobile video traffic globally, up from only 5.7% four years ago.

Today over 820 million people across the world watch YouTube and Netflix on mobile devices and are in demand for HD content.

Openwave Mobility CEO John Giere said, “OTTs have launched a land grab. In three years OTTs wiped out voice revenues. In 2.5 years they wiped out messaging revenues. Is mobile data next! You bet! Along with encryption obscuring mobile networks, operators have to grapple with the unstoppable appetite for HD video content from OTT players.”