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2005 Telecoms in Europe - France and Switzerland17 January 2005
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c11916) has announced the addition of 2005 Telecoms in Europe - France and Switzerland to their offering
The telecommunications market in France and Switzerland continues to be marked by the evolution of four key factors. These factors are common to most of the established European Union (EU) countries. Switzerland, although it is not a member of the EU, mirrors its industry and competition regulatory regime closely with those mandated by the Commission. Firstly, the ongoing transposition of the European Commissions New Regulatory Framework (NRF), mandated in July 2003, has affected regulatory attitudes and the legislative background to the telecommunications market. Secondly, residential and business customers alike are increasingly moving to a typology of mobile usage for voice calls, and always-on fixed line broadband access for non-voice services -- with strong levels of Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) adoption and increasing visibility of other broadband access options. Finally, the former incumbents are reacting to the revival of competitive pressure as conditions in the telecommunications market improve, and regulators look to boost the scope for competitive services.
France was not able to transpose the provisions of the NRF before the October 2003 deadline and faced the prospect of EC sanctions in April 2004. The new telecommunications law was finally enacted in July 2004. Swiss legislators passed a partial Telecommunications Law in December 2003, mandating the extension of Local Loop Unbundling - LLU (available since April 2003) and opening the domestic access market to competitors of Swisscom. The new Telecommunications Law takes the Swiss regulatory model further along the liberalizing and pro-competitive lines followed in the neighbouring EU states.
Historically under-served in terms of both Internet and broadband penetration, France has experienced a year-long boom in broadband growth since the middle of 2003. Broadband penetration has increased from 4% to 7% in the space of twelve months. Growth has centred on the extension of DSL services, and particularly has followed on the explosion in the number of unbundled lines in the same period. Competitors to France Telecom had a 45% market share in DSL in January 2004. A significant number of broadband subscribers also access cable modem services, despite the fact that the cable market in France is fragmented and faces a heavy regulatory handicap -- attracting the attention of the EC in June 2004. The French cable market looks set for consolidation in 2004-2005. The Swiss broadband market is also experiencing strong growth, with a more equal distribution between xDSL and cable modem subscribers, and as a result broadband penetration is higher than the European average. Competitive broadband suppliers will be boosted in 2004 following the mandating of LLU and bitstream access in Switzerland.
The French mobile market is the fourth largest in Europe, with penetration levels behind those in the other large states. Growth, at around 10%, is comparable to that of Germany and the UK, but is expected to accelerate past them as those markets near saturation. The enabling of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) competitors to the three established players should boost growth, as the market is one of the least competitive at present in the EU. Frances move to 3G has been painful and stop-start, with a lengthy licensing process, and no 3G services had been launched by August 2004. Conversely, Switzerland -- with as many operators as France serving a market seven times smaller -- has 85% penetration, broadly in line with the European average. The first 3G services were launched by Swisscom in June 2004, albeit with datacards only.
Incumbents are strong in both France and Switzerland. The French government and France Telecom have fought a long rear-guard action against the EC, which has repeatedly sought to prove that the incumbent has received unfair state support. Finally, in September 2004, the government announced that a 9.6% stake of the operator will be sold -- reducing the public ownership component to 42.25%. It is unclear how much actual effect this will have on the way the operator conducts itself. France Telecom has a major international presence, through its Orange mobile operations and ISP business, Wanadoo. Swisscom conversely is mostly focused on the domestic market, although it has repeatedly canvassed the acquisition of Telekom Austria, and has the largest independent European Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) operator (Swisscom Eurospot) as a subsidiary.
The contents of this report are as follows:
1. Executive Summary
2. Telecoms, Mobile And Broadband Overview And Analysis
3. France
4. Switzerland
5. Glossary Of Abbreviations
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c11916
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Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
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press@researchandmarkets.com
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