International mobile roaming is one of the most important services in the
European mobile operator' s portfolio. According to figures released by the GSM
Association some 42 per cent of Europeans travel outside their home country.
And revenues from international roaming has accounted for up to 20 per cent of
total mobile operator turnover in Europe. With the introduction of Pan
European regulation the cost of roaming has become more visible and
transparent. But outside Europe, to date there has been little regulatory
intervention on roaming charges.
Mobile roaming is transforming itself in Europe as a result of regulatory
intervention by the European Commission (EC). The introduction of a
euro-tariff on retail and wholesale pricing for voice calls has resulted in a
reduction of roaming tariffs within the European area but an increase in
international roaming rates to destinations outside of Europe.
Synopis
This 170-page report supported with 48 Tables and 33 Charts looks at the
evolvement of roaming prior to the introdcution of the EC cap and after. It is
supported with in-depth country reviews - 7 European - 3 non-European
countries). The report reveals the increasingly availability of ' opt in'
bundles offered by operators to by-pass the EC cap regulation. There is also
the bypass effect of Wi-Fi and VoIP services which are becoming an easier to
use alternative to international roaming.
Some mobile operators are now moving away from bi-lateral roaming
relationships. In the past operators helped found a series of roaming
alliances - such as FreeMove or Bridge - which offered preferential rates for
frequent travellers or business users - but now the importance of the roaming
alliance has been overtaken by the rise of the Roaming Hub. The Roaming Hub
enables mobile operators to interconnect to a wider range of counterparties
and is becoming the preferred method to connect at a wholesale level.
This report benchmarks voice, SMS and data roaming prices across the countries
surveyed in depth.
Table of Contents
Methodology
Acknowledgements
Executive Summary
At a glance summary: the key trends in international mobile roaming from
2010 in this report
Key Statistics used in this Report
Introduction - What is international mobile roaming and how does it work?
Chapter One: Business models that are deployed for international mobile roaming
Introduction
Types of business model
Key Point Summary
Chapter Two: The impact of the European Commission' s roaming price cap
Introduction
The development of European Community (EC) regulation
The impact of the EC regulation on roaming
Key Point Summary
Chapter Three: A review of key roaming trends in Europe from 2007 to 2010
Introduction
Trends in International Roaming rates over time
International Roaming in 2007
International Roaming in 2009 (Pre July 2009)
International mobile roaming rates end 2009 (changes between 07/09 and
01/10)
The main trends over the three year period
Key Point Summary
Chapter Four: Innovation in mobile roaming voice/data products worldwide with case studies
Introduction
New EU country services (from July 2009)
New types of roaming regulation
New roaming product case studies
Country Roaming surveys
Key Point Summary
Chapter Five: The impact of technological change on international mobile roaming
The rise of bypass services to roaming
The threat from VoIP
The threat from Wi-Fi
Added Value Services for Roaming
The Open Connectivity (OC) initiative
Key Point Summary
Chapter Six: Global mobile roaming initiatives
Introduction
Roaming alliances worldwide
Roaming alliances in Asia
Bridge Roaming Alliance
Roaming in the Middle East region
Roaming in the Asia Pacific region
Roaming in the Americas region
Key Point Summary
Chapter Seven: The future of international mobile roaming beyond 2010
Introduction
Roaming usage & customer knowledge
Drivers for new regulation ‘bill shock’
The Costs and Benefits of roaming regulation
Roaming forecast, future price trends in Europe
Key Point Summary
Chapter Eight: Conclusions
The future trends for mobile voice & data roaming
SMS roaming services
Voice roaming services
Data roaming services
Customer constraints on roaming service development
The Top Ten Trends for Roaming into 2010 and beyond
Appendix One: A list of mobile operators included in this report
