Synopsis
Mobile subscription numbers continue to increase and by late 2012 there are more than seven million more mobile phones in use than there are people in Australia. While growth is likely to continue in the next few years as smartphone uptake increases, growth will continue at a much slower rate than we have previously seen. With subscriber penetration rates over 130% of the population, as multiple phones/SIMs are used by many people, therefore we anticipate a growth of less than 2% into 2012/13.
Growth is being driven by population ages increases and a rise in the number of people using two or more mobile subscriptions – one for personal use and one for business use. Australian operators are likely to have more than 29 million mobile subscribers by late 2012 as more continue to migrate to a mobile only environment.
Telstra continues to be the market leader with more than 14 million subscribers, Optus has around 9.5 million subscribers, and Vodafone struggles to retain more than 6 million subscribers.
This report provides statistics and forecasts for 2012/13 as well as high-level commentary on the overall market, market shares by operator and detail of 2G and 3G, prepaid, postpaid shares and a brief look at wholesale numbers.
Key developments:
Prepaid subscribers continue the move to Telstra, 4G subscribers increasing and for some years, overall subscriber growth and revenue slowing.
Companied covered in this report include:
SingTel, Vodafone, 3, VHA, Optus, Telstra.
