4G&5G prices, competitiveness rankings, competition & mobile merger analysis, network economics and 4th MNO BC research studies, 2010–2024
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Network performance and speed are NOT higher in more concentrated mobile markets. Mobile mergers do NOT lead to better networks, they only lead to higher prices.
2024
mobile
mergers
Vodafone
Three UK
consolidation
network
speed
performance
quality
reliability
concentration
higher prices

September 2024
While monthly prices are several times higher in more concentrated mobile markets – statistically significant correlations with confidence intervals as high as 99.99% – network performance and average download speed are NOT higher in more concentrated mobile markets.

The state of mobile and broadband pricing – 1H2024
2024
5G
4G
mobile
wireless
prices
gigabytes
unlimited
broadband
fiber
fibre
FBB
FWA
FTTH
FTTN
FTTB
FTTP
terabytes
country
operators
rankings
competition
merger
consolidation
Europe
America
Asia
Middle East
Africa

April 2024
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.

The state of broadband (FBB&FWA) pricing – 1H2023
2023
Broadband
FBB
FWA
FTTH
FTTN
FTTB
FTTP
5G
4G
mobile
wireless
prices
gigabytes
terabytes
unlimited
country
operators
rankings
Europe
America
Asia
Middle East
Africa

June 2023
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.

The state of 4G and 5G pricing, 1H2023 – Inflation edition
2023
5G
4G
mobile
wireless
prices
gigabytes
terabytes
unlimited
country
operators
rankings
inflation
Europe
America
Asia
Middle East
Africa

March 2023
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%.

The state of 4G and 5G pricing, 1H2022 - country rankings
2022
5G
4G
prices
gigabytes
terabytes
unlimited
country
rankings
Europe
America
Asia
Middle East
Africa

May 2022
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.

Mobile prices are 2x to 5x lower in markets with 4 or more MNOs
2022
prices
4G
5G
concentration
HHI
4
MNOs
population
density
mobile
performance
wireless

January 2022
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 is the most expensive market in EU
2021
5G
4G
mobile
prices
expensive
gigabytes
Greece
Portugal
Spain
France
Italy
ANACOM
EETT
Masmovil
NOWO
Cosmote
Vodafone
Wind

November 2021
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.

The state of 4G and 5G pricing, 2H2021 – operator rankings
2021
5G
4G
prices
gigabytes
unlimited
operator
rankings
Europe
America
Asia
Middle East
Africa

October 2021
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.

The state of 4G and 5G pricing, 2H2021 - country rankings
2021
5G
4G
prices
gigabytes
unlimited
country
rankings
Europe
America
Asia
Middle East
Africa

October 2021
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 needs a new maverick mobile network operator
2021
5G
4G
wireless
prices
expensive
gigabytes
Canada
Rogers
Freedom Mobile
Telus
Bell
Videotron

April 2021
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.

The state of 4G and 5G pricing, 1H2021 – operator rankings
2021
5G
4G
prices
mobile
wireless
gigabytes
unlimited
operator
world
rankings

April 2021
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?

Is Greece the most expensive mobile market in EU?
2021
5G
4G
mobile
prices
expensive
gigabytes
Greece
Cosmote
Vodafone
Wind
EETT

April 2021
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!

Is Canada the most expensive wireless market in the world?
2021
5G
4G
wireless
prices
expensive
gigabytes
Canada
Rogers
Freedom Mobile
Telus
Bell

April 2021
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.

The state of 4G and 5G pricing, 1H2021 - country rankings
2021
5G
4G
prices
gigabytes
unlimited
country
rankings
Europe
America
Asia
Middle East
Africa

April 2021
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.

4G&5G prices are 2x to 4x lower in markets with four MNOs
2020
dfmonitor
prices
4G
5G
concentration
4
MNOs
population
density
speed
mobile
wireless

December 2020
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.

4G prices as a function market concentration, no. of MNOs, operator subscriber share, position, group affiliation, country general price level
2019
4G
prices
number
of
mobile
network
operators
concentration

January 2019
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.

10 gigabyte 4G basket EU28 & OECD country and operator rankings
2015
prices

June 2015
In this premium research note we present the 10 gigabyte basket EU28 & OECD country and operator ranking for 4G LTE unlimited (>1,000) minute & SMS smartphone plans that include hotspot/tethering functionality for the entire volume. MVNOs are not competitive!

Rewheel in the international media
Why are Canadians' cellphone bills higher than other countries?
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Reducing Wireless Competition in Europe
The New York Times (editorial)


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