Mobile broadband subscribers are set to represent a much larger proportion of the total mobile customer base in four years' time, according to Infonetics.

The consulting and market research firm claimed users of mobile broadband services will account for almost 40 per cent of all mobile subscribers by 2016, up from 15 per cent in 2011.

During 2012, Infonetics expects mobile network operators to enjoy a six per cent overall increase in revenues from voice, broadband and messaging services.

Most of this growth will come from the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions, the organisation added, while in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, a slight downturn is predicted due to ongoing economic struggles and "cut-throat competition".

Stephane Teral, Infonetics Research's principal analyst for mobile infrastructure and carrier economics, said: "The mobile world is undeniably shifting from voice to data, as mobile operators migrate as many subscribers as they can to data service plans and smartphones."

Last year, Ericsson predicted mobile data traffic will increase tenfold between 2011 and 2016, with video highlighted as the primary driver.

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