Fixed Mobile Substitution (FMS)

Now that LTE deployment is increasing, significant differences are emerging in the marketing approaches being followed by mobile network operators. At one extreme, Vodafone Germany is targeting LTE at competing with fixed broadband services. LTE provides mobile network operators with the ability to support significantly higher usage than possible with HSPA networks, by reducing the… Read more

As fixed broadband heads towards market saturation in Europe, mobile broadband services are continuing to ‘steam ahead’ in some countries. The rapid take-up of mobile broadband services is slowing the growth in fixed broadband penetration. For the second year in a row, Finland has experienced a decline in fixed broadband penetration. Across Europe as a… Read more

I welcome Ofcom’s new report, published today, which provides excellent measurement data on the state of the mobile broadband market in the UK. This type of extensive measurement programme has been long overdue. At last, the industry and consumers have access to independent data. While the results may not be a surprise to the many mobile… Read more

In his wireless blog, Mark Heath addresses whether LTE can, and will, compete with fixed network superfast broadband services. Looking at the pricing of early LTE services in Europe, LTE may present a significant challenge to some fixed operators, particularly those with slow, unambitious rollouts of so-called ‘superfast’ fixed broadband services. The performance claims being… Read more

Mark Heath reviews the findings of Ofcom’s 2010 report on the international telecoms market. UK telecom regulator Ofcom published, in December 2010, a very interesting report on the international telecoms market, in which it compares the UK mobile industry with other countries. The report covers a variety of issues, including the current state of 3G… Read more

In this post, Mark Heath, recognises the 4G leadership of TeliaSonera, which has just launched LTE services in Denmark. His analysis shows the importance of early deployment of LTE in the Nordic countries to support rapid increases in mobile broadband penetrations. I would like to congratulate Nordic mobile network operator TeliaSonera for being one of… Read more

Alastair Brydon of Unwired Insight discusses the implications of his analysis of mobile broadband penetration growth across Europe. As I review our model of the evolving mobile service mix, to help gauge mobile network investment requirements, it is striking that a relatively small number of factors are dominant in driving traffic growth. One of these… Read more

Mobile data pricing for traffic-intensive services is becoming more affordable for consumers, with a proliferation of flat-rate tariffs for smartphones and flat-rate mobile broadband bundles, with generous monthly usage allocations (for example, 5GB or more). Flat-rate pricing for smartphones is becoming increasingly prevalent, to give mobile users the freedom to access a broadening range of… Read more

Mobile users have been increasingly using their mobile phones instead of fixed phones to make voice calls, driven by convenience and affordability, and this trend will continue. Affordable voice bundles with generous allowances of anytime any-network minutes are now widespread in Europe and the USA. In Western Europe, fixed–mobile substitution for voice telephony has continued… Read more