The average monthly price of 5G&4G voice-data plans with at least 1000 minutes fell 53% the last eleven years across the 23 European mobile markets that use the Euro, from € 42 in the 1H2014 down € 20 in 1H2024. In Finland, the average monthly price went up by 42% from € 24 in the 1H2014 to € 34 in the 1H2024.

A comprehensive analysis and database of mobile network operator and mobile market competitiveness metrics. The database includes mobile subscribers, mobile subscriber shares, deployed radio sites, radio site density, spectrum holdings per band, mobile network data volume, average data usage per subscriber, average data usage per person, spectrum usage, average BusyHour throughput per sector, radio network capacity utilization and radio network capacity limits in 2024 and in 2030.

Monthly prices are 2-3x higher and gigabyte prices are 5-6x higher in markets with only 3 mobile network operators. The effective competition in markets with 4 mobile network operators not only leads to much lower mobile prices, but as well to substantially lower fixed broadband prices. In markets with only 3 mobile network operators, consumers not only pay 3x more for mobile plans with 100 gigabytes they also pay 60% more every month to buy fixed broadband plans with Gigabit speeds.

50 wireless markets and 168 mobile network operators. A comprehensive analysis and database of mobile network operator and wireless market competitiveness metrics. The database includes mobile subscribers, 5G Standalone, 5G-4G radio sites, radio site density, spectrum holdings, network data traffic load, data usage, spectrum usage, radio network capacity utilization, capacity limit, capacity potential, network performance, prices for 5G-4G voice plans, 5G voice plans, 5G fixed wireless broadband plans and many more wireless competitiveness metrics.

5G fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband plans are marketed and priced as equal or better alternatives compared to non- pure fibre based broadband plans. In 9 out of 50 countries (e.g., in the UK and Switzerland) plans with the lowest monthly price, for 100 Mbit/s download speed, were 5G FWA rather than fixed broadband plans. While broadband prices are higher in more expensive countries mobile prices are not. Mobile monthly prices are, in average, 2-3 times lower in 4 vs. 3 MNO markets.

4G&5G smartphone plan prices – for new contracts – continued to fall across most EU and OECD countries despite near double-digit inflation figures. The near-double-digit inflation in 2022 had a moderate price increase effect in markets where only 3-MNOs are present while it had no significant impact in markets where 4 MNOs are present. In almost all 4-MNO markets monthly prices fell or were flat despite an average inflation of ~9%.

Prices of 4G&5G smartphone plans continued to fall in EU in 1H2022. The median monthly price of smartphone plans in EU fell to 19 EUR in 1H2022. The median price of 4G plans fell to 15 EUR while the median price of 5G plans fell to 28 EUR. Prices of 5G plans continued to fall faster than 4G plans (~18% per annum versus ~12%). The Canadian wireless market, a de-facto network duopoly, was again ranked as the most expensive market among 50 European, American, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries.

When will mobile network operators run out of 4G capacity and how many more gigabytes per subscriber per month can they carry with 5G? A study of 170 mobile network operators from 50 European, American, Asian Pacific, Middle East and African countries. Zain Kuwait had the highest mobile data usage per subscriber in 2021 – 86 gigabytes per subscriber per month. Elisa Finland has the highest 4G & 5G untapped capacity potential – as much as a terabyte per subscriber per month.

What are the factors that significantly affect mobile prices? Market concentration has a statistically significant effect on mobile prices. The lower the market concertation (HHI) the lower price. The number of mobile network operators (MNOs) has an even stronger statistically significant effects on mobile prices. The higher the number of MNOs the lower the price. The presence of a maverick (disruptive firm) has as well a significant lowering effect on mobile prices.

The Greek mobile market where only 3 mobile network operators (3-MNOs) are present, was once again, ranked as the most expensive mobile market in EU and as one of the most expensive markets in the world. Even after excluding the mobile telephony tax Greek minimum monthly prices of smartphone plans with 1, 3 or 5 gigabytes were the highest in EU. And while telecom regulators in EU’s remaining 3-MNO tight oligopoly markets are taking steps to remedy effective competition – see recent 4th MNO entry in Portugal and ANACOM’s social tariff (30 gigabytes for 6 EUR) decision – the Greek telecom regulator EETT is in denial and has done little to remedy the apparent market failures in Greece.

Vodacom’s South Africa monthly price for 100 gigabytes was 19x higher than Pelephone’s Israel (~126 vs. ~6 EUR). Latest and historic (2014-2021) 4G and 5G prices from 172 operators in 50 European, American, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries.

Prices of 5G smartphone, mobile broadband and wireless broadband plans continue to fall sharply in EU in 2H2021. While the share of plans with UNLIMITED data volume continue to increase the rate of increase slowdown in 2H2021. The median gigabyte price of 4G&5G smartphone plans in the Israeli 4-MNO market fell to 0.04 EUR. 4G and 5G prices from 172 operators in 50 European, American, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries.

Canada has among the highest wireless prices in the world. The merger of Rogers and Shaw, if approved as notified, will be the final nail in the coffin of infrastructure-based competition in Canada. The only effective remedy for the merger is the upfront creation of a new maverick mobile network operator.

4G and 5G prices from 179 operators in 51 European, American, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries. Who are the operators with the highest and lowest monthly prices in the world?

Even after excluding the mobile telephony tax Greek prices – of smartphone plans with 1, 2 or 3 gigabytes – were the highest in EU. For 4 gigabytes Greek prices were the most expensive among 51 European, American, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries. Greek consumers pay 5 to 6 times more per month than French consumers to buy smartphone plans with, 1, 2, 3 or 4 gigabytes!

Canada has, if not the highest, among the highest wireless prices in the world. The minimum monthly price for a smartphone plan that includes 20 gigabytes in Canada is the highest among 51 European, American, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries. Consumers in Canada pay 7x more every month than consumers in France for 20 gigabytes.

Monthly prices of 4G and as well 5G plans in EU continue to fall. Plans with unlimited data volume continue to spread. 4G and 5G prices from 179 operators in 51 European, American, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries.

When will mobile network operators run out of 4G capacity and how many more gigabytes per subscriber per month can they carry with 5G? A study of 169 European, American, Asian Pacific and African operators.

What are the factors that determine mobile prices? Market concentration (no. of MNOs) has a statistically significant effect on 4G&5G monthly and gigabyte prices. The higher the no. of MNOs the lower the price.

Elisa Finland had overall the most competitive 4G&5G connectivity monthly prices in 2H2020 among 168 mobile network operators present in 48 European, American, Asia Pacific and African countries.

The share of smartphone, mobile and wireless broadband plans with unlimited data volume continued to grow, gigabyte allowances of finite data volume plans continued to grow – but overall monthly and gigabyte prices continued to fall. Monthly prices of smartphone and wireless broadband plans with unlimited data volume fell in EU in 2H2020!

The less (3 versus 4) mobile network operators present in a market the higher (2x) the market price. The higher the mobile market concentration the higher the market price.