Comments on: Mobile operators have another reason to hate Vivienne Redding

By: Vlastimil Vesely

Vlastimil Vesely — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:27:46 +0000

Thanks for the details, Robert. To be fair to T-mobile CZ, it also provides the 4G Internet access for 19 EUR a month – what is really fast, but usable only on devices where you can benefit out of that (not the case for affordable cell phones yet).

By: Robert Nemeth

Robert Nemeth — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:35:11 +0000

The National Communications Authority (NHH) has announced calls for tenders that will allow new mobile operators to enter the market in order to intensify competition on the mobile telephone market and to increase broadband Internet coverage in Hungary.
One winner will get similar frequencies (900/1800 MHz) than the current operators, however the other winner will get the formerly used 450 MHz. The latter helps to increase mobile broadband coverage.

Concerning the currect situation, it is far better than in the Czech Republic. All the 3 operators provide 3G coverage and 3GB data costs 15 EUR a month.

i agree with Ian. If you cross the border they charge a huge amount of money.

By: Vlastimil Vesely

Vlastimil Vesely — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:53:59 +0000

Steve, I have just read about a tender for two new mobile licences (15y contract) in Hungary announced by the local telco regulator. The reason, they say, is a price stagnation since 2006. Can you see something similar I’m mentioning in my comments above?

By: Vlastimil Vesely

Vlastimil Vesely — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:39:42 +0000

Good point, Ian. Concerning iPhones users in CZ (I’m one of them) their number estimation is over 50,000 (and this includes only the official 3G sales) by the end of 2008. And my data rate (via EDGE by T-mobile) is even more expensive than I mentioned above.

FYI the 9 euros flat tariff is covering only the phone access and only the web & mail apps transfers. You have to pay extra for the data being sent to/from your phone through any other native apps (maps, youtube, twitter, etc.) and for anything over 100MB – at 0.25 eurocents per kB. That makes the supply side (a few years ago highly innovative and competitive) pretty lagging behind.

By: Steven Carlson

Steven Carlson — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:01:27 +0000

I just read in EurActiv that the Commission has just proposed a price cap of €0.11 on mobile roaming text messages. This still needs to be approved by the European Parliament but it's a good first step.

By: Ian Jindal

Ian Jindal — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:29:07 +0000

Leaving aside the questions of regulation and monopolistic behaviour, there’s a clear case of expensive tariffs inhibiting usage. While the only data/roaming users are businesses who can expense large bills then the operators have little incentive to change.

When, however, you have people habitualised to eating data is vast quantities (iPhone users!) then a step across a national border – from the safety of all-you-can-eat service plans to pay-as-you-go data costs at €6/Mb – is a bankruptcy-inducing experience.

As more and more people (individuals and small businesses) bump against these tariffs the tide of resentment will rise.

This call is also a long-overdue opportunity for the big telcos to improve and open their billing systems. Much as inter-country bank transfers needed a prod to become efficient, it’s madness that charges for connectivity in France can take up to 6 months to arrive on my 02 bill in the UK.

The big opportunity here is to jump over the whole punitive/regulatory/resentful scenario and embrace a more open and dynamic market position. There’s scope for a telco (especially one operating across national borders) to carve out a new service niche.

Rachel Hinman at Adaptive Path recently wrote an article (from a US perspective) on how post-monopolistic behaviour in the Baby Bells could and should be converted to a ‘modern heroic’ approach. It’s a good real and relevant to us in envisaging a service beyond the present rather grudging changes:
http://www.adaptivepath.com/ideas/essays/archives/000971.php

By: Vlastimil Vesely

Vlastimil Vesely — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:05:02 +0000

And don’t we – customers – have reasons to hate our mobile operators? :)

At least here, in the Czech Republic, they start to get quite lasy. Their salary costs here are certainly lower than in the western Europe and their infrastructure investment drastically slowed down over last years (for example 3G network is available through only one of three operators, and only in Prague).

Despite of that we often pay higher fees (for example 9 euros monthly for EDGE cell phone access only), don’t have a personal account contact (and have to wait on the call center line for anything we need) and are charged enormous money for text messages or calls abroad.

As a liberal I don’t like market regulations much. Nevertheless how much we would still pay for roaming without Ms. Redding’s push?

I know the official news and understand the Orange manager’s logic. What is your opinion, Ladislav?