Introduction and Abbreviations 
 
- Telecommunications Retailing - UK, Retail Intelligence, May 2004 
Definitions 
Geographical, national and regional definitions 
Conversion factors 
BMRB Target Group Index sample sizes 
Abbreviations 
Executive Summary 
Buoyant market growth 
Pre-paid services leading the way 
Dependence on youthful consumers 
Technology driving the market forward 
Future profitability determined by data 
An effective duopoly in RoI? 
Distribution channels evolving 
Health concerns ignored 
Will revenue from voice channels fall in the future? 
Market Drivers 
 
Economic performance 
Republic of Ireland 
GDP
Figure 1: GDP at current and constant market prices, RoI, 1996-2004
 
Disposable income, personal consumption and national savings
Figure 2: Economic indicators, RoI, 1996-2004
 
Outlook 
Northern Ireland 
GDP
Figure 3: Economic indicators, Northern Ireland and United Kingdom, 1996-2004
 
Consumer expenditure 
Outlook 
Population
Figure 4: Trends and projections in the RoI population, by age group, 1999, 2004 and 2009
Figure 5: Percentage changes in population in RoI, by demographics, 1999-2004 and 2004-09
 
Figure 6: Trends and projections in the NI population, by age group, 1999, 2004 and 2009
Figure 7: Percentage changes in population in NI by demographic, 1999-2004 and 2004-09
 
Employment
Figure 8: Trends in the labour force, RoI and NI, 1999-2004
 
Figure 9: European unemployment rates, 3rd Quarter, 2004
 
Socio-economic breakdown
Figure 10: Socio-economic breakdown of the population, RoI, 1998, 2001 and 2003
 
Figure 11: Socio-economic breakdown of the population, NI, 1998, 2001 and 2003
 
European mobile phone subscription rates
Figure 12: Number of mobile phone subscriptions, and cost of calls, EU, UK and Ireland, 1998, 2002/03
 
Industry regulation 
European Commission endorses ComReg’s call for competition 
Mobile Number Portability 
Virtual mobile operators 
Information Ireland? 
Figure 13: Ownership of bank accounts, NI and RoI, 2001 and 2004
 
Health concerns 
Theft and insurance 
Market Size 
Figure 14: Annual mobile phone expenditure, RoI and NI, 2000-04
 
Market Segmentation 
 
Types of user 
Business mobile phone users
Figure 15: Business mobile phone sector value, NI and RoI, 2000-04
 
Personal mobile phone users
Figure 16: Personal mobile phone sector value, NI and RoI, 2000-04
 
The youth sector 
Emergency and off-peak mobile users 
Technically savvy mobile users 
Pre-paid mobile phones
Figure 17: Expenditure on pre-paid mobile phone packages, RoI and NI, 2000-04
 
Monthly subscriptions
Figure 18: Annual value of monthly subscriptions, NI and RoI, 2000-04
Figure 19: Percentage of pre-paid vs post-paid mobile phone packages ownership in SMEs, RoI, 2001-04
 
Data 
Text messaging
Figure 20: Number of text messages sent, RoI and NI, 2000-05
 
Supply Structure 
 
Ancillary services 
Mobile phone network market share in RoI
Figure 21: Mobile phone network operators share of retail revenue, RoI, 2004
 
Mobile phone network market share in the UK
Figure 22: Mobile phone network operators share of retail revenue, UK, 2004
 
RoI operating environment 
Network overcharging 
Imminent arrival of MVNOs 
Republic of Ireland Mobile Network Operators 
Vodafone 
O2 
Meteor 
Northern Ireland/UK Mobile Network Operators 
Vodafone 
Orange 
O2 
T-Mobile 
3 
Distribution 
 
Figure 23: Number of mobile phone retailers by outlet, RoI and NI, 2002-03
 
Specialist multiples 
MNO retail arms 
Other stores 
Online retailing 
Pre-paid call credit 
Marketing and Media 
 
Technology 
 
2G and 2.5G network coverage 
Inadvertent cross-border roaming 
Improved RoI coverage 
3G technology and network coverage 
The Consumer 
 
Household ownership of mobile phones 
Figure 26: Percentage of households with at least one mobile phone, NI and RoI, 2004
 
Personal ownership of mobile phones
Figure 27: People who personally own a mobile phone, NI and RoI, 2004
 
Expenditure
Figure 30: Amount spent per month on mobile phone services, RoI, 2004
 
Figure 31: Amount spent per month on mobile phone services, NI, 2004
 
Duration of connection 
Personal or business use 
Usage of mobile phone features
Figure 36: Features that mobile phone users have and use, RoI, 2004
 
Figure 37: Additional features that mobile phone users have and use, NI, 2004
 
The Future 
Pre-paid growth to decelerate 
Falling voice revenues 
Are Irish consumers ready for 3G? 
MVNOs 
All-Ireland tariffs 
Forecast 
Figure 38: Forecast of mobile phone expenditure, at current prices, RoI, 2004-09
 
Figure 39: Forecast of mobile phone expenditure, at current prices, NI, 2004-09