Communiqué de presse

The 45 million customer mark is reached, and the penetration rate tops 75% during the second quarter 2005

Paris, 25 July 2005

Autorité de Régulation des Communications Electroniques et des Postes (ARCEP) published today the figures of its Mobile Observatory for the second quarter 2005.

 

  • 456 000 new subscribers

During the second quarter, 456 200 new customers of mobile telephony services were recorded, bringing the total number of customers in France to 45.4 million at 30 June 2005.

This brings the penetration rate of mobile telephony to 75.2% of the population. Of this, 62.9% of customers have chosen a flat-rate package.

The major increase in recurring income and average monthly income per customer for the first quarter 2005 is related primarily to the end of the so-called "bill and keep" system. Until the end of 2004, mobile operators did not charge each other for their call termination services. However, since 1st January 2005, they are required to charge for this service, generating additional income.

 

  • The Mobile Observatory to be replaced by a mobile market review

This issue of the Mobile Observatory is the last to be published in this format. Beginning the next quarter, the Mobile Observatory will be replaced by a "mobile market review", which will monitor the wholesale and retail markets for access and mobile call origination, as announced by ARCEP on 31st May. This market review will continue to publish the same indicators as the Mobile Observatory, but will no longer publish individual data. The review will also include competition indicators (which will not be made public).

ARCEP's market observatory will continue to publish statistical data on the mobile telephony market.