Mobile Data Services Help Stem Operator Losses
The growing popularity of non-voice services, such as SMS and mobile entertainment, helped to drive a mini-recovery in European mobile revenues during 2002, according to a new study from technology researcher Analysys.
The survey showed that French and UK users spend the most on mobile services while the biggest improvements occurred in Germany and Spain. In a recent report, the Yankee Group forecasted that mobile service revenues in Western Europe will rise from just over $100 million last year to $132 million in 2007 (see Western Europe Mobile Penetration To Hit 88% In 2007).
| Monthly ARPU For Mobile Operators, By Country (â‚Ź) | |||||
| Country | 2000 | 2001 | YoY Change (%) | 2002 | YoY Change (%) |
| France | 39.3 | 35.8 | -8.7 | 37.3 | 4.1 |
| Germany | 37.0 | 25.8 | -30.2 | 26.6 | 3.0 |
| Italy | 31.5 | 28.7 | -8.8 | 28.6 | -0.4 |
| Spain | 36.6 | 29.7 | -18.6 | 30.6 | 3.0 |
| Sweden | 37.2 | 32.5 | -12.7 | 28.5 | -12.3 |
| UK | 44.3 | 33.8 | -23.9 | 34.3 | 1.5 |
| Western Europe | 37.6 | 30.6 | -28.7 | 31.1 | 1.7 |
| Source: Analysys, March 2003 | |||||
Non-voice services Analysys predicts that non-voice services will account for 24% of mobile service revenues by 2005 and 36% by the end of 2008. Person-to-person messaging, which includes email, SMS and MMS, will account for â‚Ź20 billion or 38% of the total with browsing services and e-tainment contributing 27% and 20% respectively.