Video-on-the-go surges

A DRAMATIC surge in demand for mobile phone data from young users hooked on YouTube and internet videos has boosted Vodafone.

The telecoms giant said demand for data had grown 63pc in the quarter to June 30 as customers used their phones to browse the web and stream videos.

Boss Vittorio Colao said users were recognising how much better quality 4G networks were, which resulted in customers opting for larger data packages of 7, 8 and 9GB, compared to the previously favoured 4GB. The firm reported a 2.2pc rise in service sales to £9.2bn and growth in all of its markets except the UK and India.

UK sales continued to fall, the firm said, but the rate of the decline slowed to a drop of 2.7pc, compared to a fall of 4.8pc in the previous quarter.

Yesterday, meanwhile, Indian firm Reliance Jio announced the launch of its JioPhone – threatening Vodafone by claiming it would be available for free for all buyers.