Australia - Mobile Communications - Industry Overview

Synopsis

The major mobile network operators in mobile communications are Telstra, Optus, and VHA with each operator defined by market size and coverage in this order. Mobile services have expanded beyond voice and SMS, as operators seek to increase their revenues and market share as the mobile penetration rate of around 125% still continues to rise in the saturated mobile market in 2011/12.

The introduction of new hardware that includes iPhones and Android smartphones and the associated apps that use mobile broadband has become increasingly popular among subscribers with the revenue generated increasing as uptake increases.

The arrival of the iPhone forced the industry to change – rather than controlling the apps and portals market, the industry has become a broadband infrastructure facilitator. This has created a new growth area in the industry which is based more on infrastructure than on apps or services. Tablet uptake is increasing resulting in further mobile broadband usage.

In this report we describe the network operators, provide an overview of the some of the MVNOs and MVNEs, and provide and industry overview with information on trends and developments in these maturing markets.

Technologies mentioned

Technologies mentioned in this report include – 2G, 3G, LTE, HSPA, WCDMA, HSDPA and HSUPA.

Companied mentioned

Companies mentioned in this report include – Amaysim, Woolworths, Crazy Johns, JB HiFi, Telstra, Optus, VHA, Hutchison Australia, 3, NBN Co, Virgin Mobile, Nokia Siemens Networks, Vodafone, Huawei, Lebara, AAPT, GRLmobile, Macquarie Telecom, Boost Tel, Pivotel.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Industry overview
• 3. Network operators
  • 3.1 Telstra
    • 3.1.1 Overview
    • 3.1.2 Network speed, coverage and services
  • 3.2 SingTel Optus
    • 3.2.1 Overview
    • 3.2.2 Network speeds and coverage
  • 3.3 Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA)
    • 3.3.1 Overview
• 4. Network technologies
  • 4.1 HSPA-based services
  • 4.2 Long-term evolution (LTE)
  • 4.3 2G services (historic)
• 5. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
  • 5.1 Background MVNO information
  • 5.2 Overview of market
  • 5.3 Other developments in the MVNO market
  • 5.4 Amaysim
  • 5.5 GRLmobile
  • 5.6 Lebara Mobile
  • 5.7 Macquarie Telecom
  • 5.8 Virgin Mobile
  • 5.9 Woolworths
    • 5.9.1 Overview
    • 5.9.2 3G, prepaid phones, caps and data launched
    • 5.9.3 Prospects for Woolworths MVNO
• 6. Mobile resellers
  • 6.1 Background information
  • 6.2 Resellers on the Telstra network
  • 6.3 Resellers on the Optus network
  • 6.4 Resellers on the Vodafone network
• 7. Mobile Virtual Network Enablers (MVNEs)
  • 7.1 Background information
  • 7.2 Pivotel
    • 7.2.1 Satellite services
    • 7.2.2 Cellular Mobile Services
  • 7.3 M2 Telecommunications Group (separate report)
• 8. Mobile retailers (separate report)
• 9. Related reports

• Table 1 – Overview of selected Amaysim versus Woolworths prepaid plans – Aug 2011
• Table 2 – Revenue by business area – Jan 2011
• Table 3 – Pivotel satellite data costs – June 2011

• Exhibit 1 – The initial analogue operators – brief historic background
• Exhibit 2 – MVNO models
• Exhibit 3 – MVNO opportunities
• Exhibit 4 – Mobile carriers and selected MVNOs
• Exhibit 5 – Examples of key MVNO customer segments
• Exhibit 8 – Amaysim at a glance – 2011
• Exhibit 6 – Mobile carriers and selected resellers and MVNEs
• Exhibit 7 – Boost Tel 2010
• Exhibit 8 – Pivotel Communications Pty Limited at a glance – 2011