Rising mobile data demand continues to create complex RF challenges for smartphone manufacturers. Globally, mobile data consumption grew 63% in 2016, and is projected to increase sevenfold by 2021, according to the Cisco Visual Networking Index.
Growth is largely being driven by video traffic, which already accounts for more than half of mobile data use, and is projected to account for more than 75% by 2021. Video consumption is also driving demand for faster networks, as well as greater network capacity. This need will become more acute as the smartphone increasingly becomes users’ primary device for streaming TV and movies, including higher-resolution 4K video. The growth of real-time video uploading, as well as new usages such as augmented and virtual reality, will drive demand for faster uplink and downlink connections.