2008 Europe - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in France and Switzerland

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Last updated: 5 Jan 2009 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 153

Analyst: Stephen McNamara

Publication Overview

This report covers France and Switzerland, both key telecom markets in the forefront of emerging technologies and deployments, and closely involved with developing telecom markets in Eastern Europe. The report analyses trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media including VoIP, VoD and IPTV developments.

·         Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;

·         Facts, figures and statistics;

·         Industry and regulatory issues;

·         Research, marketing, benchmarking;

·         Major players, revenues, subscribers, prepaid;

·         VoIP, IPTV, VoD, digital TV and DTTV;

·         Converged media, mobile broadband;

·         Market forecasts on broadband; mobile ARPU and subscribers. 

Researcher:- Henry Lancaster

Current publication date:- January 2009 (7th Edition)

Next publication date:- December 2009

Executive Summary

BuddeComm’s annual publication, 2008 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in France and Switzerland, profiles two key European countries in the telecom sector.  

France’s large population supports one of the more influential telecom markets, while its incumbent operator France Telecom is a global player with significant fixed-line and mobile interests across Europe. The company remains at the forefront of emerging convergent business models focussed on quad play offerings. In its home market, the company has invested in an All-IP strategy and has become one of the key drivers for fibre deployments. 

Switzerland’s smaller telecom market benefits from excellent broadband and mobile services, while its demanding topography has lead it to become a leader in wireless broadband strategies.  

This report reviews sector liberalisation and privatisation in France and Switzerland, and analyses the development of both mobile and broadband offerings as providers develop strategies for 2009 and beyond. It also provides essential operator statistics, assesses regulatory changes and their market implications, and analyses the emergence of convergence and quad play services. Market forecasts for broadband, Mobile ARPU and subscribers are detailed for both countries.  

Key highlights:

·         France remains Europe’s leading market for IPTV services, accounting for about half of all subscribers. Coupled with VoD, IPTV has become standard in many French homes and has helped to re-shape domestic entertainment habits.

·         Digital TV has progressed well in France: by mid-2008 about 85% of the population was served by Digital Terrestrial TV. By the end of 2011 national coverage is expected to have reached 95%.

·         France’s fibre sector is catching up with the leading nations of Europe, while its regulator’s open-access model has influenced the strategies of other NRAs. The August 2008 economic development law forms a key component of France’s regulatory framework designed to achieve widespread deployment of FttH, and thus meet the country’s high-bandwidth requirements for the foreseeable future.

·         Digital switchover in Switzerland has progressed more slowly than in neighbouring France, with only about a quarter of Swiss TV households having switched to digital TV. Nevertheless, the speed of switchover doubled in 2008, and the entire country can now receive digital broadcasts.

·         Broadband offerings changed considerably in Switzerland in 2008, following at least three years when operators made little progress in data speeds or bundled products. Competition and network upgrades during the year produced favourable results for consumers, which should stimulates further take-up of IP-delivered services in 2009.  

Broadband penetration in Switzerland and France – 2005 - 2008

Year

Switzerland

France

2005

23%

17%

2006

29%

21%

2007

32%

25%

2008

35%

27%

(Source: BuddeComm)

 

 

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

 

The following notes provide some background to our scenario forecasting methodology:

·         This report includes what we term scenario forecasts. By describing long-range scenarios we identify a band within which we expect market growth to occur. The associated text describes what we see as the most likely growth trend within this band.

·         The projections shown in the tables in this report are based on our own historical information, as well as on telecommunication sector statistics from official and non-official, national and international sources. We assume a possible deviation of 15-20% around this data.

·         All statistics for GDP, revenue, etc are shown in US$, in order to maintain consistency within and between markets. At the same time we acknowledge that this can introduce some irregularities. 

 

For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on this region, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:

·         Competition in the fibre sector driving fibre deeper into the national network;

·         Regulatory measures to improve Next Generation Access for competing network operators;

·         The impact on broadcasters and content from digital switchover;

·         The effect which widespread consumer interest in bundled packages will have on quad-play business models in coming years.

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