WCIS Insight: Global Mobile Prepaid Markets

Informa Media and Telecom
December 1, 2008
49 Pages - SKU: INFM2087301
License type:
Focusing on the world’s regions, this Insight looks at the state of the prepaid market around the globe. Each chapter is divided into sub-sections looking at market status, key performance indicators, drivers and challenges, and the regulatory and competitive trends of each region.

Key issues addressed:
  • What are the main differences between the prepaid market in developed and emerging markets?
  • Will the availability of new WCDMA services boost the global prepaid market?
  • What impact will MVNOs have on the prepaid market, especially in developed markets?
  • Are operators actively pursuing a migration strategy (from prepaid to contract)?
  • Will we see increased competition in the global prepaid market? Could prepaid take advantage of new mobile network infrastructure trends?
  • Is prepaid still the method of choice for customers entering the telecommunications market?
Key Highlights:
  • At the end of 1H08, there were 2.52 billion prepaid subscriptions globally with 43% of these in Asia Pacific representing 28% year-on-year growth, compared to 13% growth for contract subscriptions during the same period.
  • Africa has the highest penetration of prepaid subscriptions (95%), whilst conversely the region with the lowest penetration of prepaid subscriptions is North America with just 12%.
  • Prepaid services generated US$242 billion in revenues for mobile network operators with Asia Pacific the largest region contributing US$68.4 billion ahead of Western Europe on US$55.7 billion. The smallest region was North America with just below US$10 billion of prepaid revenues in 2007.
  • Informa forecasts a total of 3.93 billion mobile prepaid subscriptions at the end of 2013 with the proportion of prepaid subscriptions set to increase to approximately 74% in 2013 from 70.5% in 2008. The fastest growing prepaid region will be Asia Pacific and the slowest is likely to be Western Europe.
  • Prepaid services will generate US$382.2 billion in annual revenues globally by 2013, up from US$288 billion in 2008 with Asia Pacific set to account for more than one third of global prepaid revenues by 2013.
Market Data covered:
  • Global mobile prepaid subscriptions by region, June 2008
  • Global mobile prepaid penetration by region, June 2008
  • Global mobile prepaid revenue by region, 2007
  • Global share of prepaid subscriptions by region, 2013
  • Global share of prepaid revenues by region, 2013
  • Western Europe, total quarterly mobile prepaid customers by country, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Western Europe, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q07 vs1Q8 and 2Q07 vs 2Q08
  • Western Europe, proportion of prepaid and total subscriptions, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Eastern Europe, total quarterly mobile prepaid customers by country, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Eastern Europe, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q07 vs 1Q08 and 2Q07 vs 2Q8
  • Eastern Europe, proportion of prepaid and total subscriptions, 1Q07-2Q08
  • North America, total quarterly mobile prepaid customers by country, 1Q07-2Q8
  • North America, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q7 vs 1Q08 and 2Q07 vs 2Q08
  • Latin America, total quarterly mobile prepaid customers by country, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Latin America, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q07 vs 1Q08 and 2Q07 vs 2Q08
  • Latin America, proportion of prepaid and total subscriptions, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Africa, total quarterly mobile prepaid customers by country, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Africa, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q07 vs 1Q08 and 2Q07 vs 2Q08
  • Africa, proportion of prepaid and total subscriptions, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Africa, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q07 vs 1Q08 and 2Q07 vs 2Q08
  • Africa, proportion of prepaid and total subscriptions, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Middle East, total quarterly mobile prepaid customers by country, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Middle East, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q07 vs 1Q8 and 2Q07 vs 2Q08
  • Middle East, proportion of prepaid and total subscriptions, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Asia Pacific, total quarterly mobile prepaid customers by country, 1Q07-2Q08
  • Asia Pacific, annual mobile prepaid growth by country, 1Q07 vs 1Q08 and 2Q07 vs 2Q08
  • Asia Pacific, proportion of prepaid and total subscriptions, 1Q07-2Q08
Who should read this report:
  • Operators
  • Vendors
  • Telecoms Strategists
  • Content Providers
  • Financial Institutions
  • Consultancies
  • Governments
  • Regulators
Markets Covered:
  • Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • Africa
  • Asia Pacific
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