Netherlands - Mobile Market Insights, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

The Netherlands has continued to show growth in the mobile sector despite the country’s high penetration rate. In common with other advanced European markets, the 3G sector is the main driver for subscriber growth, though there remains little consumer enthusiasm for the take-up of high-end data services.

KPN launched Europe’s first national mobile TV network in 2008, capitalising on its recent network upgrades. Following the acquisition of Orange by T-Mobile in late 2007 there are only three network operators in the market. All provide wholesale services to MVNOs and resellers, and having reached 90% population coverage on their 3G networks they have focussed on HSPA infrastructure as a basis for developing mobile data services.

This report provides statistics and analyses on the Dutch mobile market, including a review of the key operators and regulatory issues. It also assesses emerging mobile data services such as mobile TV, and provides ARPU and 3G forecasts to 2015.

Key developments:

Dutch Parliament votes in favour of mobile and fixed internet network neutrality; KPN, T-Mobile and Vodafone join with banks to launch m-payments system in 2012; UPC launches mobile data services; number of mobile antennae broaches 25,000; KPN sells more of its mobile tower portfolio; decline in SMS as consumers switch to online messaging services; Ziggo becomes mobile services player; calls via mobile phones supersede fixed line calls for the first time; KPN ends its mobile TV service to reuse spectrum for Digitenne DTT platform; T-Mobile Netherlands deploys HSPA+ offering 21Mb/s; regulator planning late-2012 multi-spectrum action; regulator market data to December 2011; telco operating and financial data to Q1 2012; market developments into 2012.

Companies covered in this report include:

KPN, Orange Netherlands, Tele2, Versatel, Vodafone Netherlands.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Overview of the Netherlands’ mobile market
  • 2.1 Mobile statistics
  • 2.2 Operator market shares
• 3. Regulatory issues
  • 3.1 Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions
    • 3.1.1 2.6GHz
    • 3.1.2 3.5GHz
    • 3.1.3 Other spectrum
    • 3.1.4 Cartel investigation – 2012
  • 3.2 Mobile termination rates (MTRs)
  • 3.3 Mobile number portability (MNP)
  • 3.4 Roaming
  • 3.5 Network neutrality
• 4. Mobile technologies
  • 4.1 Digital
  • 4.2 Third Generation (3G) mobile
• 5. Major mobile operators
  • 5.1 KPN
    • 5.1.1 Telfort
  • 5.2 Vodafone
  • 5.3 T-Mobile
    • 5.3.1 Orange Netherlands
    • 5.3.2 Network contracts
  • 5.4 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
    • 5.4.1 Tele2
    • 5.4.2 Versatel
    • 5.4.3 Other resellers
• 6. Mobile voice services
  • 6.1 Prepaid
  • 6.2 Satellite mobile
  • 6.3 Mobile VoIP
• 7. Mobile Messaging
  • 7.1 SMS
    • 7.1.1 Premium SMS (PSMS)
  • 7.2 Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS)
• 8. Mobile data services
  • 8.1 General Packet Radio Services (GPRS)
  • 8.2 Push-to-Talk (PTT)
  • 8.3 Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  • 8.4 High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA)
    • 8.4.1 T-Mobile
    • 8.4.2 KPN Mobile
    • 8.4.3 Yes Telecom
    • 8.4.4 Vodafone
  • 8.5 Evolved HSPA (HSPA+)
  • 8.6 Long-term Evolution (LTE)
  • 8.7 Location-based services (LBS)
  • 8.8 Near Field Communication (NFC)
  • 8.9 Mobile TV
• 9. Forecasts
  • 9.1 Forecasts – mobile ARPU – 2005 - 2010; 2015
  • 9.2 Forecasts – UMTS subscribers – 2006 - 2015
  • 9.3 Notes on scenario forecasts
• 10. Related reports

• Table 1 – Mobile services market revenue – 2006 - 2013
• Table 2 – Mobile operators, subscribers and annual change – 2011
• Table 3 – Total mobile (SIM) subscribers and penetration rate (regulator data) – 1999 - 2013
• Table 4 – Total mobile traffic – 2007 - 2013
• Table 5 – Mobile revenue by service – 2008 - 2012
• Table 6 – Market share of subscribers by operator – 2006 - 2011
• Table 7 – 3G licence awards (spectrum, spectrum fees and admin fees) – July 2000
• Table 8 – MTRs – 2006 - 2008
• Table 9 – MTRs – 2009 - 2012
• Table 10 – Wholesale termination revenue – 2007 - 2012
• Table 11 – Cumulative mobile numbers ported – 2003 - 2009
• Table 12 – European roaming charges – 2007 - 2012
• Table 13 – KPN mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2012
• Table 14 – KPN Mobile consumer retail and wholesale subscribers – 2006 - 2012
• Table 15 – KPN international mobile service revenue by operator – 2006 - 2012
• Table 16 – KPN mobile monthly ARPU – 2006 - 2012
• Table 17 – Vodafone Netherlands financial data – 2007 - 2011
• Table 18 – Vodafone Netherlands subscribers – 2004 - 2011
• Table 19 – Vodafone Netherlands ARPU – 2004 - 2011
• Table 20 – Vodafone Netherlands voice minutes – 2004 - 2011
• Table 21 – T-Mobile Netherlands subscribers – 2006 - 2012
• Table 22 – T-Mobile Netherlands financial data – 2006 - 2012
• Table 23 – T-Mobile Netherlands ARPU – 2006 - 2012
• Table 24 – MVNO subscribers – 2005 - 2013
• Table 25 – Tele2 mobile subscribers – 2007 - 2012
• Table 26 – Prepaid and contract subscribers by market share – 2008 - 2011
• Table 27 – Prepaid and contract subscribers – 2007 - 2011
• Table 28 – KPN Mobile non-voice proportion of ARPU – 2004 - 2011
• Table 29 – SMS and data revenue – 2008 - 2012
• Table 30 – SMS traffic – 2008 - 2013
• Table 31 – Data traffic – 2008 - 2013
• Table 32 – Forecast mobile ARPU – 2005 - 2010; 2015
• Table 33 – Forecast UMTS subscribers – 2006 - 2015

• Chart 1 – Total mobile (SIM) subscribers and penetration rate (regulator data) – 1999 – 2013
• Chart 2 – Market share of subscribers by operator – 2006 – 2011
• Chart 3 – KPN Mobile consumer retail subscribers – 2006 – 2012
• Chart 4 – KPN international mobile service revenue by operator – 2006 – 2012
• Chart 5 – Vodafone Netherlands financial data – 2007 – 2011
• Chart 6 – T-Mobile Netherlands financial data – 2006 – 2012
• Chart 7 – MVNO subscribers – 2005 – 2013
• Chart 8 – Prepaid and contract subscribers – 2007 – 2011
• Chart 9 – SMS and data revenue – 2008 – 2012

• Exhibit 1 – 2.6GHz spectrum auction – April 2010
• Exhibit 2 – Premium SMS market feature overview by operator – 2010