Mobile connections topped 90m for first time in 2015

Figures from Ofcom show mobile subscriptions grew by 1.6m to 91.5m, with almost half using 4G

UK mobile subscriptions in the UK surpassed the 90 million mark for the first time last year, growing 1.8 per cent to 91.5 million, according to Ofcom.

The regulator’s Communications Market Report found almost half of all mobile subscriptions are 4G-capable (39.5 million), with demand for faster connectivity tripling since 2014.

Machine-to-machine connections also saw a boost, growing seven per cent year-on-year to 6.7 million.

Two thirds (66 per cent) of all adults now use the internet on their phone, up from 61 per cent the previous year.

However, both SMS and MMS message usage continued to decline, from a combined 110 billion in 2014 to 101 billion last year. Volumes have fallen by around a third since 2012, the regulator said.

Ofcom said: “A key development in telecoms over the past decade has been the launch smartphones, and the accompanying growth in the use of mobile data services. This, as well as advancements in the capabilities of mobile devices and the launch of 4G services, has led to data usage increasing significantly.”

Retail revenues in the sector remained plat (0.4 per cent growth) at £15.2 billion. Overall, the telecoms industry grew for the first time in five years by around £200 million to £37.5 billion.

Average monthly household spend on telecoms services increased by 3.2 per cent to £82.17, which Ofcom claimed was driven by people switching to faster and more expensive broadband packages.