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 in 2011, 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 fell to €21 billion in 2010; 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; regulator market data to end-2010; operator data to September 2011.

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 Number portability
  • 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 - 2010
• 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 - 2010
• Table 9 – European roaming charges – 2007 - 2011
• Table 10 – Cumulative mobile numbers ported – 2003 - 2010
• Table 11 – Mobile termination rates – 2008 - 2012
• Table 12 – Proposed mobile termination rates – 2012 - 2015
• Table 13 – UMTS/HSPA subscribers – 2004 - 2012
• Table 14 – 3 Italia mobile subscribers – 2008 - 2011
• Table 15 – 3 Italia annualised ARPU – 2008 - 2011
• Table 16 – 3 Italia mobile revenue – 2008 - 2010
• Table 17 – TIM mobile subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 18 – TIM mobile revenue by sector, annual change – 2008 - 2011
• Table 19 – Vodafone subscribers – 2001 - 2011
• Table 20 – Vodafone revenue by sector – 2008 - 2011
• Table 21 – Vodafone prepaid, contract and blended ARPU (€) – 2004 - 2011
• Table 22 – Vodafone mobile customer cost – 2007 - 2011
• Table 23 – Wind operational statistics and revenue – 2005 – 2011
• Table 24 – Wind annualised mobile ARPU – 2005 - 2011
• Table 25 – Wind mobile subscriber statistics – 2005 - 2011
• Table 26 – MVNO mobile subscribers and revenue – 2008 - 2012
• Table 27 – MVNO market share of revenue, subscribers – 2009 - 2010
• Table 29 – MVNO market share of MVNO subscribers – 2008 - 2010
• Table 30 – Prepaid cards in service – 2009 - 2012
• Table 31 – SMS/MMS and other data revenue – 2008 - 2010
• Table 32 – Vodafone data as proportion of revenue – 2005 - 2011
• Table 33 – Mobile data revenue as proportion of total – 2004 - 2012
• Table 34 – Growth in data use – 2007 - 2012
• Table 35 – Forecast mobile ARPU – 2009 - 2015
• Table 36 – Forecast UMTS subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 - 2010; 2015

• Chart 1 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2002 - 2012
• Chart 2 – Mobile market revenue – 2008 - 2010
• 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