Synopsis
The saturated mobile voice market in Europe has placed considerable pressure on mobile operators to promote the higher-ARPU contract segment and to develop compelling mobile data service offerings. Mobile data use among consumers has continued to grow rapidly in line with the greater availability of cheaper and more capable handsets and devices, as also the improved network infrastructure resulting from investments in technologies including HSPA and LTE. Continuing growth is largely in the 3G and 4G sectors as subscribers migrate from GSM networks. Although the proportion of data to overall revenue has increased for most network operators, and mobile data use has risen, revenue growth from data services is stubbornly low. This is partly attributed to market pressures, but principally to the effective regulatory measures imposed on wholesale data roaming tariffs.
This report provides key statistics and analysis on Europe’s mobile phone market as it prepares for continuing regulatory and operating challenges. It includes data on subscriber numbers, mobile penetration, and market growth, as also the strategies of operators as they face tighter regulatory impositions on interconnection and on voice and data roaming. The principal mobile operators across Europe are profiled, including statistics on their customer base, financial results and strategies.
Key developments
Sony buys out Ericsson’s 50% stake in joint venture for €1 billion; Google buys Motorola Mobility for about US$12.5 billion; new roaming data tariff caps enforced from July 2014; EC proposes extension of data roaming to global markets; Vodafone splits European operations into two divisions; EC to co-ordinate mobile satellite efforts; operator data to Q1 2013; market developments into mid-2013.
Companies covered in this report include:
Telekom Deutschland, Telefónica, Vodafone, Nokia, Samsung, Huawei, Apple, Motorola, Sony, Ericsson, Orange, H3, Telecom Italia.
