70% of mobile traffic in Latin America is generated by three platforms, a GSMA report reveals.

In the context of the fair share debate, GSMA presents today ‘Use of mobile networks in Latin AmericaThis is the first in a series of reports designed to contribute to regional discussions with data and evidence. This initial report provides a snapshot of mobile traffic in the region up to May 2024, by company and content type, at an aggregate level and by sub-region and/or country. The most compelling conclusion of the study is that three companies – Meta, Alphabet (Google), and TikTok – account for over 70% of mobile download traffic in Latin America. Meta accounts for almost 50%; Alphabet totals 14%, and TikTok, 8%.

The report also examines mobile traffic by type of use, with access to social media (41%), web browsing (29%), and streaming (19%) leading the list. This podium repeats across the region, with some variations. In Central America and Mexico, for example, the order remains the same, but social media accounts for almost 60% of the total. In Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, streaming is above web browsing. In the Andean region, streaming becomes the most popular type, representing 38% of the total. In Brazil, social media accounts for 40%, web browsing 30%, and streaming represents the same percentage as messaging services (10%).

The common thread in all three cases is the intensive use of video, in short or long format. Demand for this type of content will continue to rise with the advancement of resolutions (from HD to 4K, and eventually 8K) and the expansion of live-streamed events. Audiovisual content is one of the main drivers of sustained mobile traffic growth, which, between 2016 and 2023, multiplied by 14. Annual growth in 2023 alone exceeded the total volume of traffic in the region five years prior, in 2018. By 2030, annual traffic is expected to increase by 22 exabytes (22 billion gigabytes) compared to the previous year, almost double the 12 exabyte annual growth recorded in 2023. This increase will put further pressure on the capacity of mobile networks.

«When we see 70% of mobile traffic concentrated in three companies, it might seem like it's just a reflection of user choices. But a significant portion of this traffic is unsolicited, like the advertisements we see when opening our apps, or videos in much higher resolutions than we can appreciate on our devices."Points Lucas Gallitto, Director for Latin America, GSMA."Today, platforms do not pay for the costs of the traffic they monetise, which negatively impacts user experience, network capacity, and the environment. This highlights the need for a fair share: a market mechanism whereby large traffic generators contribute to the financing of networks, encouraging the more efficient use of this resource, which belongs to everyone.”

The report 'Mobile Network Usage in Latin America' is available for download in Portuguese, Spanish and English. тут.