15/3 Why MNO's don't like flatrates as much as you think
| Category: Mobile Market By editor at 22:25 |
We all know that the mobile internet will thrive if prices come down. Flatrates (as we know them from the PC/Mac internet) are obviously how this is gonna end up.
And most probably we'll see bundled flatrates which not only include mobile, but rather the other way around they will include things we do not longer use that much (TV, PC-Internet, Fixnet Telephony) and by packing them in a bundled flatrate, subsidize them.
Update from March 18: I didn't see it coming so quickly. Cablecom (Part of Liberty Global Inc) announced today, that they start with flatrate fixnet telephony. The monthly price here in Switzerland is CHF 20.- respectively 23.-.
The misconception that operators want to increase data traffic because SMS is coming down and MMS didn't get off yet, is a common one. Yes, they want to increase data traffic with today's high prices, but they are not so happy to come down with the price just because more people are using the mobile internet - there is not much profit in this scenario. That the japanese operators came down with the data traffic price had a lot to do with substantial earnings through other (walled garden) services they provided.
That's what was coming to my mind, when reading Any other flatrate data plans besides X-series and Web'n'walk?, and especially this part from Eduardo:
Just for fun:
In China we care for your mobile;)
And most probably we'll see bundled flatrates which not only include mobile, but rather the other way around they will include things we do not longer use that much (TV, PC-Internet, Fixnet Telephony) and by packing them in a bundled flatrate, subsidize them.
Update from March 18: I didn't see it coming so quickly. Cablecom (Part of Liberty Global Inc) announced today, that they start with flatrate fixnet telephony. The monthly price here in Switzerland is CHF 20.- respectively 23.-.
The misconception that operators want to increase data traffic because SMS is coming down and MMS didn't get off yet, is a common one. Yes, they want to increase data traffic with today's high prices, but they are not so happy to come down with the price just because more people are using the mobile internet - there is not much profit in this scenario. That the japanese operators came down with the data traffic price had a lot to do with substantial earnings through other (walled garden) services they provided.
That's what was coming to my mind, when reading Any other flatrate data plans besides X-series and Web'n'walk?, and especially this part from Eduardo:
The reason why operators are so not into data is not only due one point but a combination of the ones you listed:
- Per MB model gives revenue, which shareholders love.
- Data requires high capacity at nodes, which increases costs by a lot.
- (my favorite) The internet needs the hyperconnectivity heaven mobile operators can provide but at the same time the internet is the armageddon of the mobile voice operators for the obvious reasons we all know.
Just for fun:
In China we care for your mobile;)
