Rewheel/research

December 2013

Inefficient operators that cannot make a healthy return on €20 mass market 10 GByte all-you-can-eat minute & SMS smartphone tariffs will soon become telco road kills in Europe’s competitive markets.

Mobile network operator consolidation in Germany

2013

November 2013

Telefonica’s acquisition of E-Plus, if approved, will turn Germany into a fiercely competitive market.

Rewheel's input to public consultation of the European Parliament

November 2013

On the 4th of November 2013 Rewheel has submitted its contributions to the public stakeholder consultation launched by the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament on the European Commission's proposal on a telecoms regulation titled 'Connected Continent'.

Pre-Christmas price hike in the Greek protected oligopoly

October 2013

While in EU’s competitive mobile markets consumer prices are falling and gigabyte allowances are increasing, in protected oligopolies, such as Greece, operator pricing practices are defying economic logic. Between October and December 2013, so just ahead of the most important pre-Christmas sales season, all three Greek mobile operators have simultaneously hiked the prices of their mass market post-paid smartphone tariffs.

Debunking false claims of ETNO: EU is NOT falling behind in 4G

October 2013

Contrary to GSMA's and ETNO's unsubstantiated claims echoed by Vice President Neelie Kroes Commissioner for EU's Digital Agenda, European 3G/4G consumers pay 5x less and use more mobile data at faster connections speeds than US consumers.

Smartphone tariffs with unlimited minute & SMS in EU28-US-CH-NO

2013

pricing

October 2013

Mobile internet access represents the fuel of the digital economies, the price of gigabytes is analogue to the price of energy (€/kWh) for traditional industries. Proliferation of all you can eat voice & SMS tariffs exposes non-competitive mobile internet pricing practices.

Post-consolidation price hike in Austria

September 2013

In this flash report we follow up on our EU27 mobile data cost competitiveness report May 2013 by reflecting on three recent market developments: consolidation in Austria (prices went up by over 60% on average), the planned acquisition of KPN E-Plus in Germany and EU's single telecom market regulation.

EU27 mobile data cost competitiveness report - May 2013 (Rewheel's second extensive EU-wide mobile data cap and pricing analysis)

May 2013

EU’s single telecom market is threatened by the lack of mobile network infrastructure based competition within the national borders of half of EU’s member states and from the noticeable absence of pan-European retail operators offering borderless European tariffs.

EU27 smartphone tariff competitiveness report - December 2012 (Rewheel's first extensive EU-wide mobile data cap and pricing analysis)

2013

dfmonitor

pricing

January 2013

Smartphones represent the vehicles and their tariff plans the fuel of the digitial economy. Our research reveals alarming differences in the absolute price level and affordability of smartphone tariffs across the EU27 member states. Moreover, our analysis shows that in the affected member states high prices are already suppressing mobile internet adoption. The impacts of E5 Group presence are also addressed.

Rewheel in the international media

Sprint T-Mobile merger antitrust lawsuit survives motion to dismiss
Hausfeld

Why are Canadians' cellphone bills higher than other countries?
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Mobile Price Wars: No Sign of Peace in Europe
The Wall Street Journal

Veto of UK mobile merger sends chill across Europe
POLITICO Europe

Telecoms antitrust decision sends chills from UK to Italy
POLITICO Europe

European mobile telecoms - together we stand
The Economist

Appeal stokes telecoms merger controversy
POLITICO Europe

Telefónica’s KPN deal challenged over impact on competition in front of the EU general court
Financial Times

Europe’s mobile internet divide is widening. Finland and Estonia top EU for low-cost hi-speed internet
President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves (twitter)

Europe’s great data divide
POLITICO Europe

Vestager on telecoms collision course with Juncker
POLITICO Europe