This report provides a valuable insight into the developments and trends taking place in the worldwide telecoms market. It presents a snapshot of the overall global telecoms market including key statistics such as overall telecoms capital expenditure (CAPEX) and telecoms revenue. Statistics and information on the overall number of fixed lines; Internet users; mobile subscribers (worldwide and by region); text messages; top carriers’; outsourcing; MVNO and telecoms M&A market statistics are also provided on a global level.
 
The report focuses on the global mobile and broadband markets and includes information and statistics on mobile handsets; 3G and prepaid markets as well as global trends in mobile revenue; ARPU; call charges; termination rates, roaming and number portability. Statistics presented for the broadband market include global broadband subscribers; regional share of broadband subscribers and the top broadband countries. Global statistics on broadband access technologies are provided as well as preliminary data on broadband speeds and prices. Please note: this report only includes information on selected countries and regions in order to demonstrate global trends – for specific country and region statistics and information please see separate reports.
 
Subjects covered include:
·         Key global telecoms statistics;
·         Key global broadband statistics and trends;
·         FttH analyses and global market statistics;
·         Key global mobile statistics and trends including 3G;
·         Mobile handset market statistics;
·         Prepaid trends and market statistics;
·         Global trends in mobile revenue; ARPU; call charges; termination rates, roaming and number portability;
·         Global trends and statistics for mobile data.

Executive Summary :

The growth of the telecoms industry has been truly remarkable and today we live in world where the number of mobile phones far outweighs the number of fixed lines. Millions of people around the world also enjoy high-speed Internet services with at least 30% of all Internet users now connected to fixed broadband. It is expected that the milestone of 500 million fixed broadband subscribers will be reached early in the next decade. On a regional level, Western Europe still has the largest share of broadband subscribers worldwide.
 
Millions of users worldwide now also connect to the Internet using mobile broadband services. As a result mobile data revenue is growing – albeit slowly. This slow growth will continue in the future until proper infrastructure based on 4G becomes available. In the interim, revenue from mobile data does provide the operators with one further revenue stream in a competitive market. The economic downturn will most likely dampen growth for the more luxury-based mobile services, but SMS is expected to continue its growth as it is popular, cheap, reliable and private.
 
In recent times traditional fixed-line operators have had an uphill battle; facing external pressures such as deregulation, a severe industry and economic downturn, declining prices and major inroads by mobile services. People continue to drift towards other forms of communication, such as email, online chat, and mobile text messaging instead of using the traditional phone. As a result, worldwide telecom revenue is suffering; however, many in the industry predict this will be relatively short-lived.
 
To combat the downturn, many telecoms operators are reining in costs and overall global telecoms capital expenditure (CAPEX) is in decline as operators delay or cut back on spending. The telecoms industry is also looking to outsourced and managed services to cut costs and many companies are considering infrastructure sharing arrangements.
 
The mobile market is also experiencing a backlash and by mid-2009 around half of all mobile operators around the world were reporting a downturn in revenue. While mobile ARPU levels differ widely between the regions of the world, on the whole all regions have experienced declines in ARPU over the past few years. ARPU from mobile voice services has been particularly affected by cuts to tariff rates and the trend towards voice-data substitution. As would be expected, markets with strong competition have also seen a considerable drop in mobile call charges.
 
Mobile handset manufacturers are also feeling the brunt as overall handset sales decline. On a brighter note however, there is evidence that sales of smart phones are growing and in 2009 smart phone sales will account for over 10% of the worldwide market.
 
Key highlights:· Fixed, mobile and broadband operators face enormous challenges in the wake of the financial crisis and in 2009 the value of the overall telecoms industry is expected to decline.
·   While DSL continues to be the most popular access technology around the world, this dominance will slowly be eroded by FttH in the years to come. As FttH penetration continues, consumers can look forward to even faster services and the emergence of environmentally sustainable smart cities, offering advanced e-health; e-education and e-government services.
·    Penetration of mobile phones had reached around 60% worldwide by mid-2009 (including multiple subscriptions).
·    Over 3 trillion text messages will be sent during 2009.
·    In 2009 Finland continued to offer the cheapest mobile call charges in Western Europe.
·    Consumers in the US use their mobile phones for longer per use than in other parts of the world, averaging over 800 minutes each month.
·    Mobile termination rates and roaming charges remain an important source of revenue for operators; however, pressure continues to mount on operators to lower their charges even further, despite some European operators already reporting a drop in overall revenue as a direct result of the declining rates.
·    Revenue from mobile data, including SMS, now contributes as much as 25% to overall global mobile revenue.
·    Many users are switching to cheaper prepaid phones which do not generate as much ARPU as postpaid. Prepaid plans are being touted as a way to save money in the economic downturn.
 
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

1. Global Telecoms Market 2009
1.1 Key global telecoms statistics at a glance
1.1.1 Global telecoms statistics at a glance
1.1.2 Top carriers worldwide
1.1.3 Global telecommunications expenditure and revenue
1.1.4 Global telecoms outsourcing
1.1.5 Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
1.1.6 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
2. Key Broadband Statistics
2.1 Broadband statistical overview
2.1.1 Statistical overview
2.1.2 Leaders in old and new broadband
2.1.3 Broadband subscribers by access technology
2.1.4 Broadband pricing and speeds
2.1.5 Broadband revenue
2.2 FttH statistical overview
2.2.1 Introduction: FttH going forward
2.2.2 Fibre-based access
2.2.3 Leading markets
2.2.4 FTTx market statistics
2.2.5 Regulating fibre: a global issue
2.2.6 FttH drivers
2.2.7 FttH business models
3. Key Mobile Statistics
3.1 3G mobile statistical overview
3.1.1 3G rolling out more rapidly
3.1.2 Brief case study: Hutchison
3.1.3 3G statistics and forecasts
3.1.4 Spotlight on Asia
3.1.5 Other developments
3.1.6 3G auctions – a popular way to assign spectrum
3.1.7 Hard realities of the mobile market
3.2 Mobile handset market and statistics
3.2.1 Handset market growth
3.2.2 Mobile handset statistics and forecasts
3.2.3 Smartphones
3.2.4 Handset supplier market shares
3.2.5 Other trends and developments
3.2.6 Safety and security issues
3.3 Prepaid mobile market and statistics
3.3.1 Prepaid mobile services
3.3.2 Key prepaid trends and developments
3.3.3 Worldwide prepaid subscribers and revenue
3.3.4 Mandatory registration
3.4 Mobile revenue, ARPU, call charges
3.4.1 Overview of mobile usage and call charges
3.4.2 Overview of global ARPU developments
3.4.3 Overview of historical global ARPU developments
3.4.4 Mobile revenue growth and CAPEX forecast
3.5 Termination rates, roaming & number portability
3.5.1 Introduction: mobile competition
3.5.2 Mobile Termination Rates (MTR)
3.5.3 Roaming
3.5.4 Bill and Keep model
3.5.5 Number Portability (NP)
3.5.6 Conclusion
3.6 Mobile data statistics
3.6.1 Introduction
3.6.2 4G developments
3.6.3 Mobile broadband/data growth
3.6.4 Brief case studies of recent innovations
3.6.5 Industry developments
4. Glossary of Abbreviations
Table 1 – Worldwide telecom statistics at a glance – 2009
Table 2 – Worldwide mobile subscribers and annual change – 1993 - 2009
Table 3 – Mobile subscribers by region – 1993 - 2008
Table 4 – Worldwide market share of mobile subscribers by technology – Q1 2009
Table 5 – Growth of worldwide 3G subscribers – 2004; 2006 - 2009
Table 6 – Worldwide wireless broadband and HSPA subscribers – 2008; 2012; 2015
Table 7 – Worldwide Internet users – 1990 - 2009
Table 8 – Worldwide Internet penetration by region – 2009
Table 9 – Top ten countries for Internet users – 2008
Table 10 – Worldwide DSL subscribers – 2000 - 2009
Table 11 – Global telecoms capital expenditure – 2008 - 2009; 2013
Table 12 – Global telecoms revenue – 2002; 2006; 2008 - 2010
Table 13 – Global telecoms expenditure as a percentage of GDP – 1990; 2006; 2009
Table 14 – Number of worldwide outsourcing contracts signed across all sectors – 2004 - 2009
Table 15 – Worldwide total contract value of outsourced services across all sectors – 2007 - 2008
Table 16 – Leading regions in terms of outsourcing contract market share all sectors – 2006; 2008
Table 17 – Worldwide MVNO subscribers – 2005 - 2006; 2009; 2013
Table 18 – Worldwide MVNO services revenue – 2001 - 2006; 2009; 2012
Table 19 – Worldwide broadband subscribers and annual change – 2003 - 2009
Table 20 – Top 10 countries worldwide for fixed broadband subscribers – Q1 2009
Table 21 – Top 10 countries worldwide for fixed broadband subscribers – 2008
Table 22 – Regional share of broadband subscribers – Q1 2009
Table 23 – Broadband access among Internet households, selected countries – 2003 - 2009
Table 24 – Top 13 OECD countries for broadband penetration – 2001; 2006; 2008
Table 25 – Top 10 OECD countries for broadband subscribers – 2007 - 2008
Table 26 – Old broadband (ADSL and cable) teledensity in select countries – 2007
Table 27 – New broadband (fibre) household penetration top 14 countries – 2007
Table 28 – Worldwide broadband market share by access technology – 2009
Table 29 – OECD broadband market share by access technology – 2007 - 2008
Table 30 – OECD countries with cheapest broadband price per Mb/s – 2007 - 2008
Table 31 – Worldwide average monthly broadband price by technology – 2008
Table 32 – OECD average advertised broadband speeds by technology – 2008
Table 33 – Top 5 countries for market share of fixed broadband services revenue – 2009
Table 34 – Total fixed broadband services revenue worldwide – 2006; 2009; 2014
Table 35 – Total fixed broadband equipment revenue worldwide – 2006; 2011
Table 36 – Fibre penetration per home passed in select European countries – Jan 2009
Table 37 – Proportion of fibre subscribers per home passed in select European countries – Jan 2009
Table 38 – European FTTx subscribers and homes passed – 2007 - 2008
Table 39 – Worldwide top 10 markets with FTTx penetration > 1% – 2007; 2009
Table 40 – Worldwide FTTx subscribers – 2007 - 2008
Table 41 – Worldwide FTTx share of broadband market – 2004; 2006 - 2008
Table 42 – Worldwide FttH port shipments – 2007 - 2008
Table 43 – Worldwide market share of FttH port shipments by technology – 2007 - 2008
Table 44 – Hutchison Whampoa 3G subscribers worldwide – 2007 - 2009
Table 45 – Growth of worldwide 3G subscribers – 2004; 2006 - 2009
Table 46 – Worldwide market share of mobile subscribers by technology – Q1 2009
Table 47 – Historical 3G spectrum licence cost per capita – 2000 - 2001
Table 48 – Quarterly worldwide mobile handset sales – 2006 - 2009
Table 49 – Worldwide mobile handset sales – 2004 - 2009
Table 50 – Mobile handset revenue worldwide – 2002 - 2005; 2008 - 2009; 2012
Table 51 – Worldwide smartphone operating systems by market share – 2007 - 2008
Table 52 – Market share of top 5 mobile handset suppliers – 2008 - 2009
Table 53 – Handset supplier worldwide market shares – 1999 - 2008
Table 54 – Market share of mobile subscribers using prepaid worldwide – 2006 - 2008
Table 55 – Prepaid market share, selected developing markets – Brazil, India and China
Table 56 – Number of prepaid subscribers worldwide – 2008; 2013
Table 57 – Prepaid service revenue worldwide – 2005 - 2007; 2013
Table 58 – Top 5 countries – monthly mobile minutes of use – 2008
Table 59 – Comparison of cheapest charges for services basket – Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Estonia, Norway & Denmark – April 2008
Table 60 – Comparison of cheapest charges for services basket – Finland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, France & Great Britain – March 2007
Table 61 – Rate per voice minute in selected developed countries – April 2008
Table 62 – Comparison of most expensive charges for services basket – Switzerland, France & Ireland – April 2008
Table 63 – Monthly mobile broadband contract costs in Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa & Americas – 2007
Table 64 – Leading developed countries by monthly mobile ARPU – April 2008
Table 65 – Worldwide average mobile monthly ARPU – 2005 - 2006; 2013
Table 66 – Worldwide mobile CAPEX – 2007 - 2009
Table 67 – Worldwide mobile revenue – 2008 - 2009; 2012
Table 68 – Mobile termination rates by region (historical) – 2005
Table 69 – EU average mobile termination charges – 2004 - 2008
Table 70 – Worldwide mobile roaming revenue – 2000; 2007; 2012
Table 71 – Average call charges abroad by region – 2007
Table 72 – European roaming charges – 2007 - 2009
Table 73 – Proposed European roaming charges – 2009 - 2012
Table 74 – Top 10 European country SMS roaming charges – 2007
Table 75 – Top 10 European country roaming charges per MB – Q3 2007
Table 76 – Percentage of mobile numbers ported – Finland, France, Germany, Italy, UK and US – 2006
Table 77 – Worldwide mobile data revenue – 2006; 2008; 2013
Table 78 – Mobile data as a % of mobile revenues in leading developed countries – 2008
Table 79 – Proportion of mobile broadband users by device – 2008
Table 80 – Monthly mobile broadband contract costs in Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa & Americas – 2007
Exhibit 1 – Top 15 publicly listed carriers worldwide by sales – 2008
Exhibit 2 – Top 15 publicly listed carriers in emerging markets – 2008
Exhibit 3 – Indicative average download broadband speeds in select countries – 2009
Exhibit 4 – Why the average home will soon require 50Mb/s
Exhibit 5 – Explanation: optical fibre
Exhibit 6 – Broadband infrastructure blueprint
Exhibit 7 – Estimated costs of fibre deployment – USA
Exhibit 8 – Asia region 2.75G and 3G mobile service roll-outs – 2008
Exhibit 9 – Radio frequency spectrum
Exhibit 10 – Growth drivers for prepaid mobiles in emerging markets
Exhibit 11 – Examples of operators reporting high prepaid growth – 2007 - 2009
Exhibit 12 – Approximate monthly mobile ARPU of top/bottom 5 carriers worldwide – Q3 2006
Exhibit 13 – Roaming Regulation amendments – July 2009 - 2013
Exhibit 14 – Number Portability: key considerations
Exhibit 15 – Examples of countries with mobile numbering plans – 2009
Exhibit 16 – Definition: Personal Wireless Broadband
Exhibit 17 – Ranking of key mobile services & content segments
Exhibit 18 – Definition: off-deck
Exhibit 19 – Why mobile marketing won’t work