AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwired - Oct 18, 2013) - Most mobile operators around the world are experimenting with WiFi networks in some way. Major operators in the U.S., for example, are rolling out WiFi hotzones in congested metro areas, and operators in Korea and Japan offload a massive amount of data traffic each month to WiFi. However, in the Middle East and Africa WiFi networks are really just getting started. WiFi is a little more advanced in Latin America, depending on the country, but deployments still lag.

In user-driven WiFi Offload an end user chooses a WiFi connection over his/her mobile broadband connection. This might be because of coverage or because they want a faster connection or because they are rationing usage to avoid hitting their monthly mobile data plan allowance.

On the other hand, carrier-driven offload involves the mobile operator actively switching 3G/4G traffic to a WiFi network for network reasons. To be able to implement carrier-driven WiFi Offload, operators need to have the right equipment both in the network and in handsets. Today, the necessary technology is just starting to emerge.

"Today the predominant form of WiFi Offload is user-driven, but iGR expects carrier-driven WiFi Offload to become more common over the next five years," said Iain Gillott, president and founder of iGR, a market research consultancy focused on the wireless and mobile industry. "Both types of WiFi offload can provide needed relief for congested 3G and 4G networks in all global regions."

iGR forecasts the total amount of carrier-driven WiFi Offload, measured in TB per month, will grow at a CAGR of 124 percent between 2012 and 2017, and this growth will occur in all regions of the globe.

iGR's new market research report, Global WiFi Offload Traffic Forecast, 2012 - 2017: Moving Toward the Het-Net, provides details on WiFi and forecasts three types of traffic: WiFi Only, WiFi Offload(user driven) and WiFi Offload (carrier driven), through 2017, as well as WiFi as a percentage of total cellular data traffic. All forecasts are projected globally and for the six global regions: North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Japan.

The following key questions are addressed in the new research study:

• What is WiFi?

• Where is the WiFi standard headed?

• How is WiFi used?

• What is WiFi offload?

• What is the difference between user-driven WiFi offload and carrier-driven WiFi offload?

• What are some of the key standards efforts associated with WiFi offload?

• What are the potential benefits associated with WiFi offload?

• What are the potential issues associated with WiFi offload?

• What is WiFi only? How is it commonly used?

• How much WiFi offload traffic is expected through 2017 both globally and in each region of the world?

• How much WiFi only traffic is expected through 2017 both globally and in each region of the world?

• What percentage of total "mobile" data traffic is WiFi traffic both globally and in each region of the world?