New Zealand - Mobile Communications - Statistics, Analysis and Major Operators

Synopsis

By early 2012 mobile network operator 2degrees has grown on average at around one thousand customers a day over and has snared around 17% overall market share since launching in the previous duopoly-based mobile market in 2009. With the new player creating some price-based competition in the saturated New Zealand mobile market, the resulting churn between operators saw their market share sliding.

By late 2011 the MVNO market was also shifting between the operators, seeing one operator moving from Vodafone to Telecom. Telecom launched a new brand Skinny in 2012, clearly aimed at the youth market and targeting the other two MNOs while trying to obtain subscribers at a price point. The mobile market still at around 120% penetration is continuing to grow as some operators provide add-on packs attracting increased usage at a lower cost.

The possibility of a fourth network operator has been made by a UK-based company and may see the spectrum auction in 2013/14 providing an even higher return for the government.

But from 2012 onwards, other communication methods will increase as faster broadband speeds are available through the extended use of fibre. These alternative methods will include increased usage of MoIP and VoIP by consumers and businesses looking to value add to their communication spend.

In this report we provide market analyses, operating, and revenue statistics and forecasts for the New Zealand mobile market with analysis, statistics in text, tabular and charts formats in an easy-to-read format.

More extensive details on Vodafone and Telecom New Zealand are covered in separate reports at: www.budde.com.au.

Companies mentioned

Companies mentioned in this report include – 2degrees, Skinny, Clear Mobitel, the MVNOs – TelstraClear, Black+White, CallPlus, Compass and Orcon as well as a brief overview of the major operators (Vodafone and Telecom New Zealand).

Hot topics and technologies mentioned

Hot topics and technologies mentioned in this report include – subscribers, market share, mobile voice, mobile data, SMS, CDMA, WCDMA, HSPA, LTE.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Major mobile operators
  • 2.1 Telecom Mobile
    • 2.1.1 Background information
    • 2.1.2 MVNO wholesale market
    • 2.1.3 Skinny mobile
  • 2.2 Vodafone New Zealand
    • 2.2.1 Background information
    • 2.2.2 Market share will lower into 2012
    • 2.2.3 Safer mobile phones for children
  • 2.3 2degrees Mobile
    • 2.3.1 Brief company history
    • 2.3.2 Background information and analysis
    • 2.3.3 How will 2degrees expand in 2012?
    • 2.3.4 A dedicated te reo Maori phone
    • 2.3.5 Accelerating Aotearoa’s Talent programme
    • 2.3.6 Network expansion and preparing for 4G
    • 2.3.7 Lowered rates and potential for growth
• 3. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
  • 3.1 TelstraClear
  • 3.2 Black+White
  • 3.3 CallPlus/Slingshot
  • 3.4 Compass
  • 3.5 Orcon
• 4. Analysis
  • 4.1 Mobile competition benefits the economy in New Zealand
  • 4.2 2degrees is changing the mobile landscape in New Zealand
  • 4.3 Fourth network operator – Clear Mobitel
• 5. Statistics
  • 5.1 Operating statistics
  • 5.2 Historic statistics
  • 5.3 Revenue analysis
  • 5.4 Revenue statistics
  • 5.5 Number portability
  • 5.6 Smart device market
    • 5.6.1 Smartphones and tablet penetration expanding
    • 5.6.2 Over usage of smartphones not yet happening
• 6. Mobile Messaging
  • 6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
    • 6.1.1 Overview
    • 6.1.2 Blacklisting
    • 6.1.3 Traffic and weather warning updates
    • 6.1.4 Accessing on-line government services
    • 6.1.5 Spamming texts
    • 6.1.6 Voicemail Viewer
    • 6.1.7 Safety for boaties using NowCasting SMS
• 7. Mobile data
  • 7.1 International mobile roaming (IMR)
  • 7.2 Using data in the sky
  • 7.3 NFC payments trial
• 8. Related reports

• Table 1 – Overview of prepaid calling rates per major operator – 2012
• Table 2 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2001 - 2013
• Table 3 – Mobile subscribers per major operator – 2001 - 2013
• Table 4 – Annual change in mobile subscribers per major operator – 2002 - 2012
• Table 5 – Market share of mobile subscribers per operator – 1995 - 2013
• Table 6 – Mobile subscribers per major operator (historic) – 2001 - 2007
• Table 7 – Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration rate (historic) – 1995 - 2000
• Table 8 – Telecom Mobile and Vodafone annual call minutes (historic) – 2006 - 2009
• Table 9 – Telecom and Vodafone network termination rates – 2009 - 2014
• Table 10 – Mobile market revenue by operator – 1997 - 2012
• Table 11 – Mobile market revenue growth by operator – 1998 - 2012
• Table 12 – Mobile revenue market share by operator – 1997 - 2012

• Chart 1 – Overview of mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration rate – 2000 - 2013
• Chart 2 – Overview of mobile subscribers per major operator – 2009 - 2013
• Chart 3 –Overview of mobile market share by major operator – 2008 - 2013
• Chart 4 – Overview of Telecom and Vodafone prepaid versus postpaid subscribers – 2005 - 2013

• Exhibit 1 – 2degrees Mobile at a glance – 2012
• Exhibit 2 – Frequencies of mobile network operators in Australia and New Zealand – 2012