May 20, 2008
Healthy Mobile Communications in Italy
By Bob Emmerson, TMC European Editor
Italy has the highest 3G
penetration in Europe and 3Italia signed up more than 700,000 subscribers for its mobile TV service, as of August 2007. Now iPhone (News - Alert) is taking center stage over the UMTS networks of mobile operators TIM and Vodafone.
penetration in Europe and 3Italia signed up more than 700,000 subscribers for its mobile TV service, as of August 2007. Now iPhone (News - Alert) is taking center stage over the UMTS networks of mobile operators TIM and Vodafone. “This looks like it’s a done deal and if it is the case, then it just goes to show that between the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 Italy has been a hotbed for mobile communications” said Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) Research Analyst Saverio Romeo.
The auction for WiMAX licenses started at the beginning of 2007 and ended with the Ministry of Communications selling 35 licenses by the beginning of 2008. In June 2007, Coop’s Coop Voce and Carrefour’s Uno Mobile were the first MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) to launch in Italy. The number of MVNOs is growing month to month with new brands being launched all the time and Apple’s (News - Alert) iPhone is also launching at the end of 2008.
licenses started at the beginning of 2007 and ended with the Ministry of Communications selling 35 licenses by the beginning of 2008. In June 2007, Coop’s Coop Voce and Carrefour’s Uno Mobile were the first MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) to launch in Italy. The number of MVNOs is growing month to month with new brands being launched all the time and Apple’s (News - Alert) iPhone is also launching at the end of 2008.At the end of 2007, mobile penetration had reached 141 percent, with 3G set at 38 percent during the same period. “Italian mobile operators are decidedly investing in HSDPA and HSUPA”, Romeo added. “The market for mobile content is one of the most dynamic in Europe.”
and HSUPA”, Romeo added. “The market for mobile content is one of the most dynamic in Europe.”Bob Emmerson is TMC’s (News - Alert) European Editor. To stay abreast of the latest news affecting the European market, check out Bob’s columnist page.
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Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is Fixed Service Strategies for Mobile Network Operators, brought to you by Comverse (News - Alert).
