STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Only a fraction of voice calls in Sweden are carried on mobile networks even though the country boasts one of the highest mobile penetrations in the world, according to a new white paper by mobile analyst firm Northstream.
Sweden’s mobile-phone penetration is 94 percent, but only 15 percent of voice calls are carried on mobile networks, said Northstream. By comparison, Finland has a mobile penetration of 86 percent and 36 percent of all calls are mobile, while Norway boasts a penetration of 88 percent, with 21 percent of all calls carried on mobile networks. Other countries in Europe have smaller penetration but higher rates of calls on mobile phones than Sweden, said the report.
“Strong drivers exist for customers to personalize their telephony, going from family-oriented fixed-line to personal access via a mobile,” said Anna Lange, strategic adviser at Northstream. “The industry just needs to find the keys to those drivers to unleash a huge customer demand. This will rocket mobile voice calls and generate long-term income as well as create an opportunity to reach new customers.
“Fixed-line telephony cannot offer the necessary future functionality that will attract new voice-call customers,” continued Lange. “Northstream believes that future mobile networks will carry 80 percent of voice traffic, which should be considered as a more or less realistic maximum substitution. Unlocking the key drivers for customers to switch from fixed-line voice calls to mobile, fixed-to-mobile substitution might be the foremost opportunity for operators to generate substantial growth and income.”
