MUMBAI: Global smartphone sales are rapidly increasing with over 40 per cent of the handsets sold during the third quarter of 2012, and the rise in data traffic is mainly being attributed to video content, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report.

As the sales of smartphones gains momentum across the globe, the report states that the number of smartphones in use by 2018 would triple to reach around 3.3 billion units.

Mobile data traffic doubled between Q3 2011 and Q3 2012 and is further expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 50 per cent between 2012 and 2018, driven mainly by video. Online video is the biggest contributor to mobile traffic volumes, constituting 25 per cent of total smartphone traffic and 40 per cent of total tablet traffic.

The report also stated that the total mobile subscriptions are expected to touch 6.6bn in 2012 and 9.3bn in 2018. Q3 2012 also witnessed additional 13mn LTE subscriptions, which is stated to reach 1.6bn by 2018. By mid-2012, LTE coverage was provided for an estimated 455mn people globally. Within five years, more than half the world's population is expected to benefit from the LTE coverage.

Accounting for around 35 per cent of net additions during Q3, China leads the pack by with around 40mn additional subscriptions. It was followed by Brazil 9mn, Indonesia 7mn and the Philippines 5mn in terms of the net additions. Global mobile penetration touched 91 per cent in the quarter, growing by around 9 per cent year-on-year and 2 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

Ericsson senior vice president and head of strategy Douglas Gilstrap said, “Expectations of mobile-network quality have been elevated by the availability of smartphones and tablets that have changed the way we use the internet. Mobility is becoming an increasingly significant part of our daily lives; we always have devices within arm's reach, allowing us instant access to information, entertainment and social interaction.”