Wireless network provider Meraki has reported that iPad usage consumed more than half the network capacity of one installation despite accounting for less than 10% of the devices on the network, reports “InformationWeek” (http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/handheld/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225402019).

Meraki reports that hat tests taken during a week in May compared the use of different devices on a network at MIT’s CSAIL network, the university’s largest interdepartmental laboratory. More than 300MB was transferred during the week by the average iPad user. iPhone users averaged 31MB and iPod Touch users averaged 12MB.

“InformationWeek” says “the results take on new significance” when compared with AT&T’s unveiling this week of metered data plans that include plans with 200MB and 2GB limits. The average 300MB that was recorded by iPad users in the week would indicate that AT&T subscribers with the larger $25 a-month data plan would come in under AT&T’s limit, although the $15 plan would easily be exceeded by iPad users, at least at the MIT installation, the article adds.