France to earn Europe’s highest ARPU of US$ 50.12/month in 2010 (France)The mobile market is dominated by a triopoly of providers with relatively low MVNO competition. The number of mobile subscribers, in Q2′08, in France rose by 303,300 to 56.034 million at the end of June. The postpaid subscribers added 607,000, while the prepaid base fell by 303,700. At the end of June, a decline was seen in MVNOs, as their market share went down to 4.67%. 88% of the french population owns a mobile phone now, up from 83.2%. The calling hours rose by 5.2%, to 35.419 billion minutes. The total revenues generated, by the mobile sector were of EUR 5.318 billion during the quarter, up from EUR 5.261 billion a year ago.
Orange France is making efforts in enhancing its profile in the country’s IPTV market, introducing five new free TV channels, as well as a number of additional pay-TV options.
Bouygues posted a 15% rise in first-half sales to $22.93 billion. The telco reported a 5.5% in network revenues and said its mobile subscriber base reached 9.318 million, of which 74.7% were on post-paid contacts.
Tele2 Mobile, French MVNO, reported that it is close to the 500,000 subscriber mark. In Q2′08 Tele2 Mobile posted a turnover of EUR1 billion (USD1.55 billion) and net income of EUR12 million. It is the second largest MVNO in France after Virgin Mobile, with 465,000 registered subscribers at the end of June.
Mobile Operator Subscribers
* Bouygues Télécom 9.318 million
* SFR (Vivendi and Vodafone) 18.8 million
* Orange (France Telecom) 24.226million
Mobile Virtual Network Operators
* Darty * A Mobile (Auchan Telecom)
* Télé2 mobile (Tele2) * Carrefour mobile (Carrefour)
* Ten * Breizh mobile
* NRJ mobile * M6 mobile
* Débitel * Universal Music Mobile
* Virgin mobile * TF1 mobile
* Neuf mobile
Notable highlights of the France Mobile Forecast include:
- Although it is still relatively low compared to other European countries, the wireless penetration level in France is increasing. The wireless penetration levels will reach 96% in 2010. Its is forecasted that total subscribers in France will increase from 57.4 million to 60.3 million between 2008 and 2010.
- Market shares (by subscribers) of major operators will remain roughly the same over the next several years in France. In 2010, the largest operator will continue to be Orange with a forecasted 43.5% of total subscribers, followed by SFR (Vodafone) with 32.6% and Bouygues with 16.9%.
- In 2010, SFR will be enjoying the largest EBITDA margin in France at 38.1%. On the other hand, Bouygues will have the lowest EBITDA margin at 28.4%.
- The operator with the highest ARPU in 2010 will be SFR at US$ 58.48 per month while Orange will receive the lowest ARPU of US$ 48.30 per month. The average ARPU in the country of US$ 50.12 per month in 2010 will be one of the highest in Europe.
