Fixed-Mobile Substitution research from Sound Partners

We track and understand Fixed-Mobile Substitution, which continues its relentless progress and shows every sign of accelerating - particularly in those countries that have experienced the most traffic migration already. We track and analyse data for Western Europe as a whole, as well as for individual countries and operators, to determine the overall extent of fixed-mobile substitution and the degree to which operators can, and are, influencing the outcome.

Featured article related to Fixed-Mobile Substitution

Read our featured article: Is there a business case for femtocells

Awareness of femtocells is being heightened by new products, early deployments in the USA and the enthusiasm of leading mobile network operators, but the business case for femtocells still needs to be defined.   More...

Full list of articles related to Fixed-Mobile Substitution

Is there a business case for femtocells
Awareness of femtocells is being heightened by new products, early deployments in the USA and the enthusiasm of leading mobile network operators, but the business case for femtocells still needs to be defined. The concept of indoor base stations has captured the imagination of mobile network operators, who are keen to drive up voice and non-voice ARPU, because the technology promises to provide significantly better 3G indoor coverage in a targeted and relatively inexpensive way. More...

Fixed-mobile substitution gathers pace
As mobile voice services become more affordable, users are increasingly opting for the convenience and personalisation of mobile phones, even when a cheaper fixed phone is available. This is leading to a steady increase in the proportion of voice traffic in Western Europe that originates on mobile networks. However, the extent of fixed–mobile substitution (FMS) varies widely between the countries of Western Europe. For example, in early 2006 the proportion of total voice minutes that originated on mobile networks ranged from 18% (in Germany) to 70% (in Finland). More...

There are many ways for mobile operators to capture voice traffic
As mobile operators develop their non-voice services, they must not overlook the substantial opportunity to grow their voice usage and revenue by fixed–mobile substitution. Despite high mobile penetration and the fact that voice already dominates mobile ARPU, the majority of voice traffic in developed markets still resides on fixed networks. The potential to grow voice usage and ARPU is highlighted by great differences among operators, with those in the USA achieving usage levels five (or more) times that of those in Western Europe. More...

Bundles should be at the heart of future mobile services
Despite the advent of 3G networks, many operators are struggling to maintain voice ARPU and to grow data services beyond messaging. Bundled pricing will be a valuable tool as mobile operators attempt to kick-start growth. With bundled pricing, mobile operators offer a defined usage allocation of one or more services for a set monthly fee. Service bundles have unique benefits over alternative pricing schemes and can have both short- and long-term benefits for mobile operators. More...

3G LTE will create the business case for mass-market wireless VoIP
CDMA2000 1× EV-DO Revision A and W-CDMA long-term evolution (LTE) will bring cost benefits and new service opportunities that trigger the mass migration of mobile operators from circuit-switched voice to voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). More...

Fixed operators must face up to the threat of fixed-mobile substitution
While fixed networks still carry the majority of voice traffic today, mobile services can offer greater convenience and are becoming increasingly affordable in many markets. As some mobile operators target fixed voice usage as a source of revenue growth and encourage their customers to dispense with their PSTN services, fixed operators are being confronted by the phenomenon of fixed–mobile substitution that can cause the migration of voice traffic to mobile networks and (in some cases) precipitate the removal of fixed-line services altogether. More...

IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) could accelerate fixed-mobile substitution
IMS is an open, standardised network development that increases the flexibility and control of multimedia services delivered over mobile and fixed IP networks. The strongest opportunity for IMS may be in support of the fixed–mobile substitution strategies of 3G operators, to help them to seize significant voice traffic and revenue from fixed operators. More...

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Reports related to Fixed-Mobile Substitution

How to Succeed with Fixed–Mobile Convergence
The Acceleration of Fixed–Mobile Substitution in Western Europe: facts and figures
The Future of the Global Wireless Industry: scenarios for 2007–2012
Fixed-Mobile Substitution in Western Europe: causes and effects
Pricing Mobile Services for Success: towards a bundled future
Scenarios for the Evolution of the Wireless Industry in Europe to 2010 and Beyond
Defending Against Fixed-Mobile Substitution: detailed operator case studies
Accelerating Fixed-Mobile Substitution: detailed operator case studies
Delivering Strategic Benefits with IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
Wireless Voice Over IP: technical and commercial prospects

Press releases related to Fixed-Mobile Substitution

Femtocells create new opportunities in the enterprise market
Mobile operators must develop a robust business case for femtocells
Fixed voice disappearing rapidly in many European markets
Dual-mode handsets could be a distraction from real convergence opportunities
Half of all voice traffic may originate on mobile phones by 2008, but mobile operators will not all benefit
Indoor base stations have a big advantage over converged UMA-based WLAN services
3G femtocells (indoor base stations) will drive fixed–mobile substitution
Fixed–mobile substitution is accelerating
Cellular VoIP in the USA and Western Europe will generate more revenue than all fixed VoIP services by 2012
Mobile operators can drive ARPU with bundles of mobile services but must beware of flat-rate pricing
Organisations in the wireless industry must prepare for radically different futures
Fixed operators fight back against fixed–mobile substitution
Vodafone accelerates mobile operators' onslaught on fixed voice revenues