Got an iPhone 3Gs on your Christmas wishlist? Apple’s latest incarnation of the lust worthy smartphone may be faster than ever, but its popularity threatens to bring the UK’s 3G network grinding to a halt, according to a new report.
As both hardware and software improve, smartphone and mobile broadband dongles are increasingly able to gobble up 3G data on the double. But 3G capacity isn’t limitless, and according to technology consultant Dr Mark Heath, our demand for mobile data could increase 20 fold by 2014.
BBC iPlayer iPhone app incoming!
The report, Will 3G Networks Cope?, concludes that while 3G networks will respond to cope with this exponential growth to a degree, more still needs to be done to find new ways to connect customers wirelessly.
“Two things are driving the problem – smartphones present one, but the bigger problem at the moment is mobile broadband services – used by dongles,” he told Sky News. “We still think that even with the new technology and the extra spectrum, there are still big problems ahead.”
Enjoy your iPhone for now, but watch out. The way things are going, 2014 is going to be an annus horribilis, with Facebook stalking tech in phone cameras, and Nokia phones that break in two when you don’t want them to.
