Abstract
Fixed-mobile convergence is an increasingly urgent and critical strategic issue for telecoms providers as mobile markets in Europe approach saturation, and users become open to the cost-saving choice of a single provider for their fixed and mobile needs. The Fixed-Mobile Convergence Bulletin is the first to document and assess service launches in depth across the European region.
The definition of Fixed Mobile Convergence is the ability to provide a seamless transfer from mobile to fixed line telephony and vice versa. The service is usually presented as a bundled offer. Typically mobile providers are offering a bundled home zone service - where the mobile service replaces the fixed line service. In countries such as Germany these services have become very popular.
We believe that there are three main developments taking place, all three areas are covered in the Bulletin
The Fixed-Mobile Convergence Bulletin covers the three areas:
- 1. The introduction of a Fixed to Mobile Substitution Service (FMS): where the mobile operator aims to replace a fixed line service (e.g. a Home Zone service)
- 2. The introduction of a Fixed-Mobile Converged Service (FMC): where the fixed line operator aims to replace the mobile operator with a dual-mode service which works on a broadband service and then transfers to a mobile service outside of the home
- 3. The introduction of a Bundled Service Proposition (BSP): where either operator seeks to provide a mixture of Fixed and Mobile services as a single bundled package
Coverage each issue:
- i) FMC product pricing over the previous 3-months
- ii) Key technological developments that impact the FMC sector
- iii) Regulatory updates, with changes in regulation driving FMC services
- iv) Significant FMC service and market trends
- v) Detailed pricing of FMC products available
- vi) Round up of FMC activities outside the surveyed countries
