How Wi-Fi Continues to Dominate Indoor Usage Over 5G in the U.S.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Micah Sachs, Vice President of Client Analytics & Insights and Rupert Bapty , Analyst at Opensignal to discuss their latest data on Wi-Fi vs 5G usage in the U.S. Opensignal is a network measurement company that collects data globally to analyze mobile and Wi-Fi network performance. The company uses passive testing via partnered apps on millions of devices worldwide.

While the exact apps used and device numbers are undisclosed, Opensignal says it has a diverse and extensive dataset to deliver actionable insights. Opensignal collects data on mobile network performance through a combination of crowdsourcing and automated testing. By partnering with various mobile applications, Opensignal gathers billions of measurements daily from a diverse set of research participants worldwide.

The core methodology involves differentiating between Wi-Fi and mobile usage and segmenting data by location, using geolocation filters to determine "home" (evenings and weekends) versus "away" usage. Opensignal says this data collection approach allows to present an apples-to-apples comparison across operators.

?Wi-Fi still dominating indoor mobile usage

The report highlights that 75% of overall usage occurs at home, with Wi-Fi being the dominant connection type in this setting. Away from home, mobile data usage increases, though patterns vary depending on the operator. The analysis reflects a clear delineation of user behavior in these contexts, with at-home users showing a higher dependence on Wi-Fi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wi-Fi usage spiked significantly due to lockdowns and remote work, but this increase has since tapered to near pre-pandemic levels. Opensignal’s research indicates that while the pandemic temporarily shifted behavior, the current data suggests a stabilization in trends.

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As the ?Opensignal report highlights, Wi-Fi still dominates smartphone data usage in the U.S., with notable differences among operators. U.S. smartphone users generally prefer Wi-Fi, even outside the home, and spend most of their screen-on time connected to Wi-Fi. This trend is especially prevalent among MVNO users, aligning with these operators' strategies to minimize costs by offloading traffic to Wi-Fi. MVNOs like Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile encourage users to rely on Wi-Fi to reduce cellular data use, as they lease network access from major carriers.?

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Why do operators need a 3rd party data about their own customer’s usage?

?The insights provided by Opensignal are valuable to telecom operators, who use the data to benchmark their performance against competitors and optimize network infrastructure. Beyond data collection, Opensignal’s independence lends credibility to its insights, which are especially valuable in regulatory discussions and public reporting. Operators also use Opensignal to uncover inefficiencies or discrepancies in their networks that they might otherwise miss.

In terms of longitudinal analysis, Opensignal has not conducted a detailed multi-year study on Wi-Fi usage as a percentage of total data consumption. While some historical analyses exist, such as during Ramadan or COVID-19, these are isolated studies rather than part of a continuous dataset. The company has considered exploring trends like public versus private Wi-Fi or indoor versus outdoor usage, but such segmentation requires additional effort and is not currently available. Tracking user data over five years, for example, remains an untapped area.

?During discussions, Opensignal acknowledged the potential for future research areas, such as analyzing indoor versus outdoor data usage or distinguishing public from private Wi-Fi networks. These areas could provide further insights for operators and policymakers, especially regarding spectrum allocation and infrastructure planning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Opensignal’s insights paint a clear picture of the connectivity landscape in the U.S., highlighting Wi-Fi’s enduring dominance over mobile data usage, even in an era of rapid 5G adoption. While 5G offers unparalleled speed and coverage enhancements, user behavior and operator strategies still heavily favor Wi-Fi, particularly at home and in environments where cost efficiency is prioritized. As discussed in the upcoming industry report we wrote for the wireless broadband alliance, the role of Wi-Fi as a key enabler of digital transformation and equitable connectivity cannot be overstated, with future advancements in AI and integration with cellular networks set to further solidify its importance.

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