the wireless industry investing in the future
TRANSCRIPT
CTIA – The Wireless Association®
Matthew Gerst
NATOA
September 2013
The Wireless Industry
Investing in the Future
Snapshot: Wireless Today
• Consumers are adopting wireless for voice,
text and data services
– 326 Million Subscriber Connections
– Almost 40% of households are wireless-only.
• Wireless is getting faster everywhere.
– Wireless is available to 99.9% of consumers; 3 or more providers serve 97.2% of consumers
– U.S. is the global leader in LTE.
– Large and small carriers are investing heavily and deploying LTE in all locales to keep up with demand (over $30 billion in 2012).
• Wireless continues to serve consumers under
a “light touch” national regulatory framework.
Sources: FCC 16th Annual Mobile Competition Report (March 2013); CTIA Semi-Annual Industry Survey (2013); Center for Disease Control (June 2013)00
Consumers Demand More Wireless Than Ever
• Wireless data usage rose 104%
between 2011 and 2012
• Price per voice minute and per
megabyte of data continues to
decline.
• 50% of devices are smartphones;
Exponential growth in availability
and downloads of applications
• Minorities lead mobile Internet
adoption and use; Over 50% of
low-income consumers use
mobile Internet services Sources: FCC 16th Annual Mobile Competition Report (March 2013), CTIA Semi-Annual Industry Survey (2013);
Pew Internet & American Life Project (Nov. 2012)
The Value of a Wireless Ecosystem
Source: CTIA
mHealth
By 2015, an estimated
30% of smartphone
users will be using
wellness apps.
mFinance
Mobile banking can
help bring financial
services to traditionally
under-banked
demographics.
mEducation
Smartboards and
tablets are
transforming
classrooms and
distance learning.
Entertainment
Mobile entertainment
is now a $36 billion
global industry.
• Wireless providers have voluntarily committed to ensuring
the best possible consumer experience
• CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service
– Over 97% industry participation by market share, including four largest wireless providers
– Points of the Code:
• Advertising disclosures for terms, conditions, and ETFs
• Ready access to customer service for consumers and prompt response to consumer complaints
• Data, messaging and roaming usage alerts (Full Implementation April 2013)
• Separation & explanation of provider charges and taxes on bills
• Trial period for new service
Wireless Consumer Protection
• CTIA and our member companies are committed to
promoting and enforcing ethical marketing practices:
– CTIA’s Common Short Code program enforces a rigorous set
of Best Practices, including a double “opt-in” requirement for
CSC campaigns
– The Mobile Marketing Association publishes its Best Practices
and Guidelines for mobile marketing
– Consumers can forward spam texts to “SPAM” (7726) to report
spammers
– Stolen Smartphone Prevention Initiative to implement
reactivation database (Nov. 2013) and educate consumers
about remote locate/lock/erase features and measures
Wireless Consumer Satisfaction
Wireless Going Green
• Within Wireless…
– Eco-friendly initiatives, like reduced packaging and recycling programs
• …Enabling Greener Industries
– Wireless-enabled machine-to-machine (M2M) communications – such as fleet telemetrics systems in logistics – promote efficiency and reduce fuel usage
• CTIA has formed a Green Working
Group to address environmental
issues within the industry
http://www.gowirelessgogreen.org
• Smartphones and accessible apps have become an invaluable tool
to help ensure fast, effective communication for persons with
disabilities
• Our member companies are working with the disability community to
make sure that accessibility keeps pace as technology evolves
• CTIA’s Access Wireless site helps wireless consumers search for
the right handset to fit their needs
Wireless Accessibility
http://www.accesswireless.org
• CTIA member companies and consumers equally understand
the importance of safety and privacy in the mobile ecosystem
• CTIA and our member companies are helping parents ensure
kids are safe and responsible wireless citizens
– CTIA’s “Growing Wireless” provides tips and tools for parents
– CTIA/ESRB Mobile App Rating System (more than 8k apps rated)
• CTIA has Best Practices and Guidelines for Location-Based
Services
– Component of the Consumer Code for Wireless Service
Responsible Use and Privacy
http://www.growingwireless.com
• Providers and industry associations are making a
collaborative, voluntary effort to develop Next-Gen 911
• A coalition of CTIA member service providers and public
safety associations has made a voluntary commitment to
provide Text-to-911 capabilities to requesting Public Safety
Answering Points by May 2014
• The FCC is considering a long-term national framework
for Next-Gen 911
• Wireless service providers covering over 97% of consumers
have voluntarily committed to support the Wireless
Emergency Alert (WEA) system, providing presidential,
imminent threat, and AMBER alert notifications to consumers
Public Safety
• The public increasingly relies on wireless
communication during emergencies
• The CTIA Business Continuity and
Disaster Recovery Program emphasizes
“the three P’s” for wireless providers:
– Planning: anticipating potential issues
in your service area, designing
redundant networks
– Preparedness: portable base stations,
hardening, backup power
– Partnership: coordination with national,
state and local agencies
Network Reliability and Resiliency
A “COW” (Cell On Wheels) helps respond to the Southern
CA wildfires of 2007.
• Matthew Gerst Director, State Regulatory and External Affairs
– 202-736-3216
Contact Information