Skip to main content

Asian Mobile Operators Offer Value-Added Apps

Mobile penetration and rapid adoption of broadband access continue to boost total service revenue for wireless operators, but the dilution of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) -- due to multi-SIMs -- is a cause for concern, according to the latest market study by ABI Research.

Market data shows that 4Q-2010 has seen an increase of $1.4 billion quarter-on-quarter or 2.2 percent growth for Asia-Pacific total mobile service revenue. However, 4Q-2010 ARPU showed a decrease of 2.1 percent from 3Q.

"The overall contraction of ARPU is largely caused by the continued expansion of the subscription base, where remarkably one in five is a newly-added subscription that was not around a year ago," said ABI Research practice director Neil Strother.

More mobile network operators are looking for new ways to generate revenue, which include adding new interactive value-added service (VAS) applications such as mobile TV, mobile payments, mobile wallet, airtime transfer or even free music downloads which encourage more data usage.

With the launch of India's 3G networks, BSNL has also recently introduced VAS such as video SMS and video calls, in an attempt to capture more market share and encourage 3G service adoption.

Mobile phone service providers believe these new offerings will also be likely to improve customer retention -- due to their familiarity and commitment to the services.

The urgency in seeking improved loyalty could not come at a better time, as Mobile Number Portability (MNP) came into effect in January 2010 in India, and country-wide MNP requests crossed 3.8 million at end of February.

Popular posts from this blog

Growing Venture Capital in APAC AI Market

Technology is a compelling catalyst for economic growth across the globe.  Artificial intelligence (AI) rides a seismic wave of transformation in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region — a market bolstered by bold government initiatives, swelling pools of capital, and vibrant tech ambition. The latest IDC analysis sheds light on this dynamic market. Despite a contraction in deal volumes through 2024, total AI venture funding surged to an impressive $15.4 billion — a signal of the region’s resilience and the maturation of its digital-native businesses (DNBs). Asia-Pacific AI Market Development The APAC AI sector’s funding story is not just about headline numbers but also about how and where investments are shifting. Even as the number of deals slowed, the aggregate value of investments climbed, reflecting a preference among investors for fewer but larger, high-potential bets on mature or highly scalable AI enterprises. The information technology sector led the AI investment charge. Top area...