UK and US operators are missing out on billions of dollars in revenue by not tapping into consumers willing to pay incremental amounts for a better mobile broadband service.
 
Research commissioned by outdoor Wi-Fi vendor BelAir Networks found that 36 percent of US smartphone users and 22 percent of those in the UK said they would pay an additional US$10 per month for improvements to their service. Just an additional US$7 per month from every mobile broadband subscriber would generate nearly US$20 billion in annual revenue.
 
BelAir Networks’ Ronny Haraldsvik said continued pressure on existing mobile and fixed networks means access to wireless broadband “has become like oxygen for smartphone users.” Three quarters of mobile users said poor mobile network connection or coverage is to blame for their reluctance to use mobile commerce and video applications.
 
In related news, infrastructure giant Ericsson yesterday confirmed it is to acquire BelAir Networks as it looks to get into the outdoor Wi-Fi market as a way to relieve increasingly under pressure cellular networks.