Italy - Mobile Market Insights, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

Italy’s vibrant mobile market is supported by a large population receptive to new technologies. The popularity of multiple-SIM use has led to a mobile penetration rate far above the European average. The market is dominated by three operators, while a fourth, 3 Italia, has struggled to make a profit or significantly expand its customer base. All four providers operate 3G networks, while investments in network upgrades have provided rich opportunities for mobile data use among consumers. A trial SCDMA network launched in late 2008 has added to the mix. This report provides an analytic overview of Italy’s mobile market, including the latest statistics, the key regulatory issues and the growth of mobile data services. It also profiles the major providers and the likely impact of emerging technologies on their strategies for coming years, and provides ARPU and 3G forecasts to 2015.

Key developments:

Regulator extends 3G licences to 2029 and GSM licences to 2027; Vodafone introduces Booster femtocell unit, TIM contracts NSN for 7,000 LTE base stations; mobile market value falls to an estimated €17.4 billion in 2011; TIM to close mobile TV service; 3 Italia signed a seven-year managed services contract with Ericsson; Digi Mobil launched mobile services tailored to Romanians in Italy; regulator proposes lower MTRs to 2015; spectrum auction opens up LTE sector and delivers €3.945 billion for the government; MVNO customer base exceeds four million; regulator market data to Q3 2011; operator data to September 2011; market developments to early 2012.

Companies covered in this report include:

3 Italia, TIM, Vodafone, Wind.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Overview of Italy’s mobile market
  • 2.1 Mobile statistics
  • 2.2 Operator market shares
• 3. Regulatory issues
  • 3.1 Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions
    • 3.1.1 Spectrum trading
    • 3.1.2 Other frequencies
    • 3.1.3 Spectrum auctions 2011
  • 3.2 Roaming
  • 3.3 Network sharing
  • 3.4 Mobile number portability (MNP)
  • 3.5 Mobile termination
  • 3.6 Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC)
• 4. Mobile technologies
  • 4.1 Digital
  • 4.2 Third Generation (3G) mobile
    • 4.2.1 Trial SCDMA network
• 5. Major mobile operators
  • 5.1 3 Italia
  • 5.2 TIM
    • 5.2.1 Network contracts
  • 5.3 Vodafone Italy
  • 5.4 Wind
  • 5.5 MVNOs
• 6. Mobile voice services
  • 6.1 Prepaid
• 7. Mobile Messaging
  • 7.1 Short Messaging Service (SMS)
  • 7.2 Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS)
• 8. Mobile data services
  • 8.1 Overview
  • 8.2 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
  • 8.3 High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA)
  • 8.4 Evolved HSPA (HSPA+)
  • 8.5 Long-term Evolution (LTE)
  • 8.6 Femtocells
  • 8.7 Mobile TV
    • 8.7.1 3 Italia
    • 8.7.2 TIM
• 9. Mobile content and applications
  • 9.1 Location-based services
  • 9.2 Mobile banking/ticketing
  • 9.3 Payment services
• 10. Forecasts
  • 10.1 Forecasts – Mobile ARPU – 2009 - 2015
  • 10.2 Forecasts – UMTS subscribers – 2009 - 2010; 2015
  • 10.3 Notes on scenario forecasts
• 11. Related reports

• Table 1 – Mobile operators, subscribers and annual change – Sep 2011
• Table 2 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1995; 1997; 1999 - 2012
• Table 3 – Mobile market revenue – 2008 – 2012
• Table 4 – Mobile market share of revenue by operator – 2008 - 2010
• Table 5 – Revenue per active SIM – 2008 - 2012
• Table 6 – Revenue by service – 2009 - 2010
• Table 7 – Mobile market investments – 2009 - 2012
• Table 8 – Mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2004 - 2011
• Table 9 – European roaming charges – 2007 - 2011
• Table 10 – Cumulative mobile numbers ported – 2003 – 2011
• Table 11 – Annual mobile numbers portings – 2002 – 2012
• Table 12 – Mobile termination rates – 2008 - 2012
• Table 13 – Proposed mobile termination rates – 2012 - 2015
• Table 14 – UMTS/HSPA subscribers – 2004 - 2012
• Table 15 – 3 Italia mobile subscribers – 2008 - 2011
• Table 16 – 3 Italia annualised ARPU – 2008 - 2011
• Table 17 – 3 Italia mobile revenue – 2008 - 2010
• Table 18 – TIM mobile subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 19 – TIM mobile revenue by sector, annual change – 2008 - 2011
• Table 20 – Vodafone subscribers – 2001 - 2011
• Table 21 – Vodafone revenue by sector – 2008 - 2011
• Table 22 – Vodafone prepaid, contract and blended ARPU (€) – 2004 - 2011
• Table 23 – Vodafone mobile customer cost – 2007 - 2011
• Table 24 – Wind operational statistics and revenue – 2005 – 2011
• Table 25 – Wind annualised mobile ARPU – 2005 - 2011
• Table 26 – Wind mobile subscriber statistics – 2005 - 2011
• Table 27 – MVNO mobile subscribers and revenue – 2008 - 2012
• Table 28 – MVNO market share of revenue, subscribers – 2009 - 2011
• Table 30 – MVNO market share of MVNO subscribers – 2010 - 2011
• Table 31 – Prepaid cards in service – 2009 - 2012
• Table 32 – SMS/MMS and other data revenue – 2008 - 2010
• Table 33 – Vodafone data as proportion of revenue – 2005 - 2011
• Table 34 – Mobile data revenue as proportion of total – 2004 - 2012
• Table 35 – Growth in data use – 2007 - 2012
• Table 36 – Forecast mobile ARPU – 2009 - 2015
• Table 37 – Forecast UMTS subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 - 2010; 2015

• Chart 1 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2002 - 2012
• Chart 2 – Mobile market revenue – 2008 - 2012
• Chart 3 – Revenue per active SIM – 2008 - 2012
• Chart 4 – Revenue by service – 2009 – 2010
• Chart 5 – 3 Italia mobile subscribers – 2008 - 2011
• Chart 6 – 3 Italia annualised ARPU – 2008 – 2011
• Chart 7 – 3 Italia mobile revenue – 2008 - 2010
• Chart 8 – TIM annualised ARPU – 2005 – 2011
• Chart 9 – TIM revenue by sector, annual change – 2008 – 2011
• Chart 10 – Vodafone prepaid, contract and blended ARPU (€) – 2004 - 2011
• Chart 11 – SMS/MMS and other data revenue – 2008 - 2010

• Exhibit 1 – UMTS auction results – 2000
• Exhibit 2 – UMTS auction results – 2009