U.S. Wireless Data Traffic Hit Record High in 2024
Americans used a record 132 trillion megabytes of wireless data in 2024, a sharp increase from the previous year.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2025 — Americans used 132 trillion megabytes of wireless data in 2024, the largest annual total in history, according to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association’s press release covering their annual wireless industry survey released Monday. If a high-definition movie averages about three gigabytes, that would mean 132 trillion megabytes of data is enough to stream more than 44 billion movies.
The figure marks a sharp increase from 100 trillion megabytes in 2023 and represents the third consecutive year of roughly 35 percent growth, the trade association said. The year-over-year gain of 32 trillion megabytes was the largest single jump ever recorded.
Ajit Pai, president and CEO of CTIA, said the numbers demonstrate the central role of wireless networks in the U.S. economy. “The bottom line is simple: America’s wireless industry is delivering for consumers and powering our economy,” Pai said. “Consumers are using record amounts of data — streaming, connecting and creating in ways that enrich their lives and fuel growth across every sector.”
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