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Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2
1INDUSTRY OVERVIEW8
1.1Limited headroom in European subscriber growth9
1.24G migration continues with untapped potential in some markets10
1.3Much expected as operators begin their 5G journeys12
1.4Revenue and capex outlook16
1.5Evolving mobile market structures18
2MOBILE DRIVING GROWTH, ENABLING INNOVATION
AND FORGING A DIGITAL EUROPE
21
2.1Mobile’s contribution to economic growth and jobs22
2.2Consumer engagement with mobile services27
2.3Mobile operators facilitating and driving innovation across the region30
3POLICY INFLUENCING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
AND SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MOBILE
35
3.1Reforms to drive digital evolution36
3.2Aligning data protection and privacy regulation38
3.3The forthcoming Cybersecurity Act40
Content1
Subscriber penetration high, with consumer shift to 4G ongoing
Executive
Summary
At year-end 2017, 85% of the population in
Europe – 465 million people – subscribed
to mobile services. The total addressable
market for the region’s mobile operators
is approaching saturation point, with the
larger mobile markets such as France and
the UK accounting for the majority of new
unique subscribers.
Since 2012, rapid adoption of 4G services has
occurred across many European countries.
At the end of 2017, there were 285 million 4G
connections in the region (a 25% increase
on the previous year), accounting for 42% of
total connections.1 4G has now overtaken 3G
as the region’s leading technology, though
connections are forecast to peak during 2023.
4G investment will continue in the short term
as operators seek network performance
improvements to meet consumer demand for
higher speed, always-on connectivity.
1. Excluding licensed cellular IoT
Executive Summary2
The Mobile Economy Europe 2018。