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September 2019 How many 4G gigabytes 30 EUR bought - EU28 & … · 2019. 10. 25. · How many 4G...
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© REWHEEL 2019 all rights reserved | research.rewheel.fi | [email protected] | +358 44 203 2339 | PUBLIC REPORT
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices – April versus September 2019 The Czech mobile market has been consistently ranked as one of the most expensive markets in EU28 & OECD. The recently launched 4G smartphone plans − some of which include unlimited data volume − did not significantly improve the overall competitiveness of the Czech mobile market.
Rewheel research PUBLIC study commissioned by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, September 2019
The latest 4G smartphone plans launched by the three Czech mobile operators during August and September 2019 have only marginally improved the price competitiveness of the Czech mobile market.
During September 2019 Czech consumers could buy at most 1 gigabyte when they spent 20 EUR (~513 CZK) and at most 4 gigabytes when they spent 30 EUR (~770 CZK) per month.
Back in April 2019 the mass market affordable 20 and 30 EUR monthly budgets bought in Czechia at most 0.5 and 3 gigabytes respectively.
Consumers in Czechia must double their average retail mobile communication spending of 500 CZK per month to over 1,000 CZK in order to subscribe to the new unlimited data volume 4G smartphone plans. Is that a reasonable expectation?
The recent introduction of 4G smartphone plans with unlimited data volume that cost 1,099 CZK (~43 EUR) or more per month did not significantly improve the overall price competitiveness of the Czech mobile market and consequently the welfare of Czech consumers.
Most gigabytes for 30 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
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How many 4G gigabytes 30 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 30 EUR or less includes the most GB
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Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
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How many 4G gigabytes 30 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 30 EUR or less includes the most GB
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Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
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Updated chart
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Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 2
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Most gigabytes for 50 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
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How many 4G gigabytes 50 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 50 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
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Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
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How many 4G gigabytes 50 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 50 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
Unlimited volume plans
Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019
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Updated chart
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 3
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Country median gigabyte price − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
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Country median gigabyte price - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 2019Fully allocated country median gigabyte price of 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and 3Mbit/s for HD video
Fully allocated GB price: tariff retail monthly price (incl. VAT) divided by included gigabyte allowance. 3-MNO markets (25 countries), 4-MNO markets (16) Median price among all eligible plans logged in the database for country or group of countries. Unlimited plans were assinged500 GB finite volume. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
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Country median gigabyte price - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 2019Fully allocated country median gigabyte price of 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and 3Mbit/s for HD video
Fully allocated GB price: tariff retail monthly price (incl. VAT) divided by included gigabyte allowance. 3-MNO markets (25 countries), 4-MNO markets (16) Median price among all eligible plans logged in the database for country or group of countries. Unlimited plans were assinged500 GB finite volume. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019
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Updated chart
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 4
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Context
The government of Czechia is planning to hold a 5G spectrum auction during the second half of 2019 and award spectrum licenses
in the 700 MHz and 3400 – 3600 MHz bands. In February 2019 the Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) published1 the draft
5G auction terms that included favorable conditions for new entrants (e.g. reservation of 2x10 MHz in the 700 MH band).
The Czech government’s motivation to include favorable conditions for new entrants in the draft 5G auction terms stems from the
fact that only three mobile network operators are currently present in the Czech mobile market: T-Mobile owned by Deutsche
Telekom, O2 owned by the Czech based PPF investment group and Vodafone. Furthermore, there is a widespread belief, supported
by the findings of many − independently conducted − international price comparison studies, that mobile data prices are generally
much higher in Czechia than in other EU28 or OECD markets.
In Rewheel’s Digital Fuel Monitor (DFMonitor) bi-annual EU28 & OECD mobile data price comparison studies2, Czechia has been
consistently ranked, as far back as 2013, as one of the most expensive markets. Similarly, the European Commission both in its
latest (2018) annual mobile broadband price comparison study3 of EU28 markets and as well in its 2017 version4 ranked Czechia
(together with Cyprus, Greece and Hungary) as the most expensive market. The Czech mobile market has also has been
consistently ranked by OECD5 and Strategy Analytics (Teligen) as one of the most expensive markets among OECD countries.
In the last three months the Czech telecommunication market was shaped by two very significant structural developments.
− In July 2019, Vodafone the no.3 mobile-only network operator, was given the green light6 by the European Commission
to acquire UPC the cable-based fixed broadband and TV provider.
− One month later, in August 2019, the European Commission sent7 a Statement of Objections to T-Mobile and O2
informing them its preliminary view that their extensive active network sharing agreement restricts competition. T-
Mobile’s and O2’s network sharing agreement that covers all mobile technologies and the entire territory of Czechia with
the exception of Prague and Brno means that a very significant share of the Czech population (~85%) is covered by only
two independent radio access networks – a de facto network duopoly?
In light of the upcoming 5G auction, the recent significant structural market developments and as well in light of the recent launch
by the three Czech mobile operators of new smartphone plans − some of which include unlimited mobile data − the Czech Ministry
of Industry and Trade commissioned Rewheel to carry out an independent EU28 & OECD mobile data price comparison study for
the purpose of supporting the Ministry in the final auction design and other measures that may be deem necessary.
In this study, Rewheel updated the April 2019 DFMonitor’s 11th release EU28 & OECD country rankings using selected 4G
smartphone plan price metrics (i.e. most gigabytes for 20, 30, 40 and 50 EUR and country median gigabyte price) by taking into
account the latest8910 smartphone tariffs launched by the Czech mobile operators during August and September 2019. The study
compares the price rankings of the Czech mobile market before (April) and after the launch (September) of the latest tariffs.
It is important to note, that while we incorporated in the September 2019 comparison the latest tariffs of the Czech mobile operators,
we have used the April 2019 tariffs for all other countries in both the April and September rankings.
1https://www.ctu.eu/notice-prepartion-tender-right-use-radio-frequencies-700mhz-band-and-related-steps 2http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/The_state_of_4G_pricing_DFMonitor_11th_release_1H2019_PUBLIC.pdf 3https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/mobile-broadband-prices-went-down-europe-2018 4https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/mobile-broadband-prices-europe-2017 5https://www.oecd.org/sti/broadband/broadband-statistics/ 6https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-4349_en.htm 7https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_19_5110 8http://www.t-press.cz/en/press-releases/press-news-archive/new-t-mobile-tariffs-according-customers-needs-more-data-flexibility-hw-subsidies.html 9https://www.o2.cz/spolecnost/tiskove-centrum/653346-
O2_predstavuje_tarify_NEO_s_neomezenymi_daty_Navysuje_datove_objemy_v_ostatnich_tarifech_a_do_O2_Spolu_pridava_exkluzivni_sport.html 10https://www.vodafone.cz/o-vodafonu/o-spolecnosti/pro-media/tiskove-zpravy/detail/vodafone-startuje-eru-neomezenych-mobilnich-dat-v-/
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 5
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Hence, any improvements in the rankings of Czechia, presented herein, should be interpreted as the best-case scenario given that
prices have been falling across the board the last five years. Put simply, most likely prices have also fallen between April and
September 2019 in all other countries and hence one cannot exclude the possibility that the like-for-like rankings of Czechia might
actually be worse than what is shown herein.
We will examine this point further when we will publish the DFMonitor 12th release 2H2019 sometime during the fourth quarter of
2019.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 6
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Table of Contents
1 Digital Fuel Monitor methodology (mobile data price competitiveness) ......................................................... 7
1.1 Eligible plans: 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and 3 Mbps speed for HD video .................................... 9
1.2 Unlimited volume plans: How do we designate and treat plans with unlimited volume ..................................................... 10
1.3 Price metrics: Maximum gigabytes that 20, 30, 40 or 50 EUR buys and country median gigabyte price ......................... 11
1.4 Czech eligible smartphone plans − April 2019 .................................................................................................................. 12
1.5 Czech eligible smartphone plans − September 2019 ....................................................................................................... 13
2 Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices – April versus September 2019 ............................................ 15
2.1 Most gigabytes for 20 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets ............................................................................ 16
2.2 Most gigabytes for 30 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets ............................................................................ 18
2.3 Most gigabytes for 40 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets ............................................................................ 19
2.4 Most gigabytes for 50 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets ............................................................................ 20
2.5 Country median gigabyte price − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets ...................................................................... 23
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 7
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1 Digital Fuel Monitor methodology (mobile data price competitiveness)
Rewheel’s Digital Fuel Monitor (DFMonitor) bi-annual releases have been tracking mobile data prices in the EU28 & OECD mobile
markets since 2014. In every bi-annual release we collect and analyse thousands of smartphone, mobile broadband and wireless
home broadband plans suitable for fixed-to-mobile broadband substitution from 41 markets in accordance with our novel and robust
methodology11.
Rewheel’s DFMonitor methodology has been designed to reliably measure and track the price of naked (unbundled) mobile data
connectivity. We measure the price of mobile data when used by consumers in hybrid voice-SMS-data plans (smartphone plans)
and as well when used by consumers in data-only plans (mobile broadband or wireless home broadband plans).
While most international comparison studies typically use a set of arbitrarily predefined baskets of voice, SMS and data services
(e.g. 300 minutes, 100 SMS and 2 gigabyte of mobile data) the DFMonitor methodology is consumer-focused, straightforward,
much broader and designed to eliminate the bias of selecting the baskets that best fit the price structure of certain operators (e.g.
converged operators) or price profiles of certain countries (e.g. expensive countries).
Typically, expensive countries tend to fair better in international comparisons of low usage baskets and much worse in comparisons
of high usage baskets. Therefore, international wireless price comparison studies shall have a neutral design. They should not be
focused or calibrated using low data usage baskets where the price differences of expensive countries are least pronounced ‘race
to the bottom of price competitiveness’12.
In markets where prices are competitive consumers could buy plans with much higher allowances for the same or a fraction of the
monthly cost at which consumers in expensive markets buy tiny data allowances. For example, as we showed in our latest price
comparison study13 in France and Italy consumers could buy 4G smartphone plans with unlimited minutes, SMS and at least 50
gigabytes for 8 to 9 EUR per month while Czech consumers have to pay a minimum of 30 EUR to buy a plan that includes unlimited
minutes, SMS and a tiny 4-gigabyte allowance.
An international price comparison study must measure both the price of entry level mobile data plans but as well the price for very
large or unlimited data allowances. While a smartphone plan with 100 gigabytes costs only 15 EUR in Italy and 20 EUR in France
in Czechia until very recently was not offered by the three incumbents.
In the core of Rewheel’s robust methodology lies a straightforward comparison of the maximum amount of gigabytes that consumers
could buy – in 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and as well the maximum amount of gigabytes that consumers
could buy in 4G mobile broadband or wireless home broadband plans in each of the 41 EU28 & OECD countries from any of the
operator main brand, sub-brands or major MVNOs – when they spend 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80 EUR per month.
Rewheel’s DFMonitor methodology does not measure the cheapest or average price for a certain usage pattern – which is the
wrong thing to measure anyway since the average data usage of subscribers is de facto limited by the data volume (gigabyte) cap
of their plans. For example, a Czech consumer that subscribes to a 3-gigabyte plan simply cannot have an average usage of 10,
20 or 30 gigabytes per month. As seen in the table and chart below, according to the Finnish telecom regulator authority, Finnish
consumers used14 in average around 30 gigabytes per month in 2018 because most of them15 (~75% of all subscribers) subscribed
to truly unlimited data volume 4G plans.
DFMonitor methodology simply measures how many gigabytes of mobile data consumers can buy when they spend a certain
amount of EUR per month. Hence, DFMonitor’s international price comparisons are independent of country specific usage patterns
and free of market specific calibration biases.
11http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/Methodology_DFMonitor_11th_release_1H2019.pdf 12http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2018_may_pro_1h2018_release/ 13http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/The_state_of_4G_pricing_DFMonitor_11th_release_1H2019_PUBLIC.pdf 14https://www.traficom.fi/en/news/strong-increase-data-usage-especially-mobile-phones 15https://www.traficom.fi/en/statistics/mobile-subscriptions
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 8
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Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 9
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1.1 Eligible plans: 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and 3 Mbps speed for HD video
According to our methodology eligible plans in the DFMonitor 11th release 1H2019 (April 2019) were consumer monthly rolling 4G
LTE smartphone tariff plans having a minimum of 1,000 national minutes and a minimum speed of 3 Mbps for supporting HD video
streaming at all times.
We logged all the SIM-only tariffs and in rare occasions tariffs with handset subsidies that have higher gigabyte volume allowance
than the maximum possible that consumers could obtain with SIM-only tariffs. If an operator did not offer SIM-only tariff plans (very
rare) we logged the operator’s cheapest available plans with handset subsidy that fulfilled all other conditions.
Bundled offers such as fixed broadband plans combined together with smartphone or mobile broadband plans (e.g. Vodafone’s
latest unlimited volume smartphone tariffs that are only available with a UPC or another fixed broadband connection) or offers for
special customer groups such as multiple lines for family or groups, second family line for 25% off, youth offers, senior offers, etc.
were excluded. If a tariff plan was cheaper with a longer contract duration, we logged in the database the lowest available price
(e.g. 10% off for 24-month contract).
The tariff monthly fee we logged in the database does not include one-off fees (e.g. activation porting, service etc). Such fees, with
very few exceptions, do not significantly increase the monthly tariff fee for the duration of the contract or when they applied for a
12-month period in monthly rolling tariffs. All commercial promotions available at the time of collection were considered (e.g. 2
months free if purchased online or 10% off if purchased before the 25th of April 2019).
The database includes off-the-shelf tariff plans (e.g. RED S 10 GB, RED M 30 GB, RED L 50 GB) and as well added additional
data or options that increase the maximum monthly data allowance wherever applicable. We only considered eligible monthly rolling
data add-ons. One-time use add-ons that expired in the end of the billing cycle were excluded. Promotions that temporarily
increased the volume allowance or maximum speed were considered only if they were applicable for the entire duration of the tariff
contract or in case of monthly rolling contracts for minimum 12 months.
No Purchase Power Parity (PPP) operation has been performed on the raw tariff plan prices. Prices in EUR are the retail VAT
included prices found on the operator web sites. Prices in other national currencies have been converted to EUR by simply using
the exchange rate displayed by Google on the day of collection.
We used the April 2019 CZK to EUR exchange rate (1 CZK = 0.039 EUR) for converting the Czech tariff prices to EUR prices both
for the April and September 2019 comparisons.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 10
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1.2 Unlimited volume plans: How do we designate and treat plans with unlimited volume
Unlimited plans in DFMonitor 11th release 1H2019 (April 2019) were plans without a named finite volume and a 4G speed of at
least 3 Mbps at all times. Any plan that was marketed as ‘unlimited’ where the operator named a finite volume and reserved the
right to throttle the speed below 3 Mbps or deprioritize the traffic, has been designated as a finite volume plan with a volume equal
to the named de-prioritization/throttling volume (e.g. 22, 32, 35, 50 or 75 GB for US operator unlimited plans).
For the purpose of calculating a fully allocated price per gigabyte for every plan we logged in the database, we assigned to
smartphone plans with truly unlimited volume the maximum finite gigabyte volume that 80 EUR bought which was 500 gigabytes.
Oister, a sub-brand of Hutchison-3 the no.4 operator in Denmark sold, during April 2019, a smartphone plan with 500 gigabytes for
129 DKK ≈ 17 EUR ≈ 434 CZK as seen in the screenshot below.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 11
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1.3 Price metrics: Maximum gigabytes that 20, 30, 40 or 50 EUR buys and country median gigabyte price
In DFMonitor 11th release 1H2019 (April 2019) we used two price metrics to analyse the tariff data. The maximum gigabytes that a
certain amount of EUR (i.e. gigabytes for €5, €10, €15, €20, €25, €30, €40, €50, €60, €70 and €80) buys in a country and the fully
allocated country median price per gigabyte.
The maximum gigabytes that a certain amount of EUR buys in a country is the tariff plan among all the eligible tariffs we logged in
our database that includes the most gigabytes for the given EUR amount while the fully allocated country median price per gigabyte
is the median price of all the eligible tariffs we logged in our database for that country. The fully allocated price is calculated as the
tariff monthly fee in EUR (that includes VAT) divided by the included gigabyte allowance. Charts presenting these two metrics
include all eligible tariffs from the operator main brand, their sub-brands or any MVNO that uses the operator network.
The chart below depicts the April 2019 country median gigabyte price in every single of the 41 EU28 & OECD markets, the median
gigabyte price across all EU28 markets, the median gigabyte price across all OECD markets, the median gigabyte price across all
3-MNO markets (25 countries) and the median gigabyte price across all 4-MNOs markets (16 countries).
As we have repeatedly shown in our studies16 in markets where 4 rather than 3 MNOs are present both the gigabyte (unit) prices
and monthly smartphone plan prices are significantly lower. Moreover, as seen in the chart below, gigabyte prices have been falling
faster in 4-MNO than in 3-MNO markets.
16http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2019_jan_pro_4G_prices_as_a_function_of/
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Country median gigabyte price in EU28 & OECD markets - April 2019Fully allocated country median gigabyte price of 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and 3Mbit/s for HD video
Fully allocated GB price: tariff retail monthly price (incl. VAT) divided by included gigabyte allowance. 3-MNO markets (25 countries), 4-MNO markets (16) Median price among all eligible plans logged in the database for country or group of countries. Unlimited plans were assinged500 GB finite volume.
Prices: April 2019research.rewheel.fi ©
Gigabyte prices fall faster in 4-MNO markets!The median gigabyte price in 3-MNO markets is 113% higher than in 4-MNO markets (was 81% higher in 2H2018 and 55% higher in 1H2018)
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 12
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1.4 Czech eligible smartphone plans − April 2019
The screenshots below taken from the Czech mobile operator websites on the 3rd of April 2019 depict the monthly rolling
smartphone plans of the three Czech mobile operators.
We logged in the April 2019 database all six of T-Mobile’s tariff plans seen below (S to XXL). All six of T-Mobile’s tariff plans included
unlimited minutes and 0.5, 4+2, 8+2, 12+2, 18+2 and 60+2 gigabytes and were sold for 499, 799, 999, 1,199, 1,499 and 2,499 CK
per month respectively.
Similarly, we logged all five of O2’s tariff plans seen below (Blue to Platinum). All five of O2’s tariff plans included unlimited minutes
and 0.5, 3, 6, 12 and 60 gigabytes and were sold for 499, 749, 849, 1,199 and 2,499 CK per month respectively.
Vodafone sold five plans but its entry level plan included only 500 minutes and hence was not eligible according to our methodology.
Therefore, we logged four of Vodafone’s tariff plans (Start Unlimited to Red Full 20GB) that included unlimited minutes and 1.5,
5+2, 10+2 and 20+2 gigabytes and were sold for 549, 777, 1,077 and 1,777 CZK per month respectively.
During April 2019 we could not find eligible (consumer, monthly rolling 4G plans that included at least 1,000 minutes and had a
minimum 3 Mbps speed at all times for HD video streaming) that were sold by either the sub-brands (discount brands) of the three
Czech mobile network operators or by any of their MVNOs.
The fully allocated gigabyte price of the eligible fifteen Czech smartphone plans we logged in the database during April 2019 varied
from 38.92 EUR per gigabyte (T-Mobile’s and O2’s entry plans that were sold for 499 CZK and included 0.5 gigabyte) to 1.57 EUR
per gigabyte (T-Mobile premium XXL plan that was sold for 2 499 CZK and included 62 gigabytes).
The Czech median (median among the eligible fifteen plans) fully allocated gigabyte price in April 2019 was 3.90 EUR.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 13
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1.5 Czech eligible smartphone plans − September 2019
The screenshots below taken from the Czech mobile operator websites during September 2019 depict the monthly rolling
smartphone plans of the three Czech mobile operators.
We logged in the September 2019 database four out of the six of T-Mobile’s tariff plans seen below. We logged the three plans that
included finite volumes Můj svobodný tarif M of 1.5, 3 and 12 gigabytes sold for 525, 625 and 825 CZK respectively and the plan
with an unlimited data volume (Můj svobodný tarif M a neomezeně HD) that included unlimited minutes and was sold for 1,275 CZK
per month. The unlimited volume plan that included only 100 national minutes sold for 1,125 CZK and the unlimited volume plan
that on top of the unlimited national minutes included 100 international minutes that was sold for 1,475 CZK were not eligible and
therefore not included in the database.
On the 12th of September 2019, O2 announced17 a portfolio of new smartphone plans that became available on the 16th of
September. O2 launched four plans with finite data volumes and four plans with unlimited data volumes as seen in the screenshot
below. We logged in the database the four plans that had finite volumes Free+Modry, FREE+Bronzovy, FREE+Stribrny and
Free+Zlaty that included 1, 4, 14 and 60 gigabytes respectively sold for 499, 649, 849 and 1,249 respectively and three out of the
four plans that included unlimited data volumes NEO Bronzovy, NEO Stribrny and NEO Zlaty that came with a top speed of 5, 20
and 300 Mbit/s sold for 1,099, 1,299 and 1,599 CZK respectively.
17https://www.o2.cz/spolecnost/tiskove-centrum/653346-
O2_predstavuje_tarify_NEO_s_neomezenymi_daty_Navysuje_datove_objemy_v_ostatnich_tarifech_a_do_O2_Spolu_pridava_exkluzivni_sport.html
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 14
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Similarly, with T-Mobile we did not include in the database O2’s most expensive NEO Platinovy 2,499 CZK plan because it had the
same speed with a less expensive plan and included other services that are unrelated to mobile data connectivity.
During early September 2019 Vodafone sold three plans Základní, Doporučujeme and Pro náročné with finite data volumes of 4,
10 and 20 gigabytes for 599, 799 and 1,099 CZK respectively which we included in the database. Vodafone also sold plans with
unlimited data volume but they were only available with a UPC or another fixed broadband connection that costs 399 CZK as seen
in the screenshot above. Moreover, as a minimum, a Vodafone customer is required to purchase 2 smartphone plans, for 998 CZK
each, on top of the fixed broadband connection bringing the total minimum cost to 2,395 CZK (93.41 EUR). If a customer were to
purchase 4 unlimited data volume smartphone plans the cost of each plan drops to 599 CZK and the total cost including the fixed
broadband connection increases to 2,795 CZK (109.01 EUR).
In accordance with our eligibility criteria Vodafone’s unlimited data volume plans were excluded from the comparison. The reason
for this rule is anything but trivial. If a consumer in Czechia would like to buy a smartphone plan with unlimited data volume that
also includes unlimited national minutes from one of the three Czech mobile operators, he or she would need to pay a minimum of
1,275 CZK (49.73 EUR) to T-Mobile or 1,099 CZK (42.86 EUR) to O2. Vodafone however, only offers unlimited data as a bundle
of two smartphone plans and a fixed broadband connection, yielding a minimum cost of 2,395 CZK (~93 EUR).
Forcing consumers to buy bundles of mobile and fixed broadband services advertised by telcos as better value for money due to
the typically 10% to 20% offered discount forces many consumers to pay significantly more every month by buying services they
do not necessarily need. For example, many consumers such as students, single-parent families, singles, seniors, etc. do not
necessarily need both fixed and mobile broadband and hence they might prefer to pay substantially less every month by
disconnecting (or not signing up) fixed broadband and subscribing only to mobile plan/s with truly unlimited data volume.
The fully allocated gigabyte price of the eligible fourteen Czech smartphone plans we logged in the database during September
2019 varied from 19.46 EUR per gigabyte (O2’s entry level plan that was sold for 499 CZK and included 1 gigabyte) to 0.1 EUR
per gigabyte (O2’s entry level unlimited data volume plan that was sold for 1,099 CZK, which we designated 500 gigabytes as a
finite volume for the purpose of this calculation).
The Czech median (median among the eligible fourteen plans) fully allocated gigabyte price in September 2019 was 2.52 EUR.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 15
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2 Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices – April versus September 2019
Herein, we present the EU28 & OECD April 2019 country rankings by incorporating the latest 4G smartphone tariffs launched by
the Czech mobile network operators during August and early September 2019.
In the sub-sections below, we present two different metrics. The first one depicts the maximum gigabytes that 20, 30 (DFMonitor’s
headline public metric), 40 and 50 EUR bought in each country while the second depicts the country median (fully allocated)
gigabyte price of all eligible plans we included in the comparison for each country. In each of the five sub-sections below we present
two charts:
− The original chart from DFMonitor’s 11th 1H2019 release where both Czechia and the 40 other EU28 & OECD markets
are ranked in accordance with their April 2019 prices
− and the updated chart where we re-ranked the countries by incorporating the Czech September 2019 (latest) prices
with the April 2019 price of the 40 other EU28 & OECD markets.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 16
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2.1 Most gigabytes for 20 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
During April 2019, as seen in the original chart below, 20 EUR (512.82 CZK) bought at most 0.5 gigabyte in Czechia. T-Mobile and
O2 both sold during April 2019 entry level 4G smartphone plans with unlimited minutes and 0.5 gigabyte for 499 CZK (19.46 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 35th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 20 EUR
comparison. Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malta and New Zealand − markets with only 3 mobile network operators − were
more expensive than Czechia in this comparison. Consumers in those markets could not buy a 4G smartphone plan with unlimited
minutes and any gigabyte allowance when they spent 20 EUR per month.
In September 2019, after the launch of new 4G smartphone plans by all three Czech mobile operators, 20 EUR (512.82 CZK)
bought consumers at most 1 gigabyte in Czechia, as seen in the updated chart above. O2 sold during September 2019 an entry
level 4G smartphone plan with unlimited minutes and 1 gigabyte for 499 CZK (19.46 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 35th most expensive market. In September 2019 Czechia moved up the ranks by one place and
became the 34th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 20 EUR comparison.
Irrefutably, as we have repeatedly shown in our studies, in EU28 & OECD markets where 4-MNOs are present 20 EUR (512.82
CZK) buys consumers a lot more gigabytes. For example during April 2019, 20 EUR bought consumers 15 gigabytes in Sweden
and the UK, 23 in Spain, 40 in the Netherlands, 60 in Italy, 100 in France and unlimited gigabytes in Slovakia (sold by the 4 th
challenger mobile network operator Swan Mobile).
0.5 0.5 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 8 10 10 10 10 15 15 20 20 23 25 30 30 36 40 40 50 60 60
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How many 4G gigabytes 20 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 20 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
research.rewheel.fi ©
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How many 4G gigabytes 20 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 20 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
research.rewheel.fi ©
Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019
Updated chart
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 17
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Moreover, 4G smartphone plan prices in Czechia, are not only much higher than prices in EU28 & OECD 4-MNO markets but they
are also substantially higher than prices in other 3-MNO similar size markets such Austria, Belgium and Switzerland all of which
are expensive countries i.e. countries with much higher general comparative price levels than Czechia.
During April 2019, 20 EUR bought consumers 5 gigabytes in Belgium, 10 gigabytes in Switzerland and 30 gigabytes in the Austria.
As it can been seen from the July 2019 OECD monthly comparative price levels18 Austrian, Belgian and Swiss general price level
is nearly 2x (more than 2x in Switzerland) more expensive than Czechian general price level. Despite that, mobile data prices in
Czechia are much higher than prices in Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. Why?
18https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=CPL
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 18
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2.2 Most gigabytes for 30 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
During April 2019, as seen in the original chart below, 30 EUR (769.23 CZK) bought at most 3 gigabytes in Czechia. O2 sold during
April 2019 a 4G smartphone plan with unlimited minutes and 3 gigabytes for 749 CZK (29.21 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 39th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 30 EUR
comparison. Only Greece and Hungary − markets with only 3 mobile network operators − were more expensive than Czechia in
this comparison.
In September 2019, after the launch of new 4G smartphone plans by all three Czech mobile operators, 30 EUR (769.23 CZK)
bought consumers at most 4 gigabytes in Czechia, as seen in the updated chart above. Vodafone sold during September 2019 a
4G smartphone plan with unlimited minutes and 4 gigabytes for 599 CZK (23.36 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 39th most expensive market. In September 2019 Czechia moved up the ranks by two places and
became the 37th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 30 EUR comparison.
The latest 4G smartphone tariffs launched by the three Czech mobile operators during August and September 2019 have only
marginally improved the price competitiveness of the Czech mobile market. For the affordable monthly budgets of 20 EUR (512.82
CZK) and 30 EUR (769.23 CZK) Czech consumers could buy, during September 2019, at most 1 and 4 gigabytes respectively (i.e.
tiny and largely unusable mobile data allowances for video streaming).
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How many 4G gigabytes 30 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 30 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited volume plans
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
research.rewheel.fi ©
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How many 4G gigabytes 30 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 30 EUR or less includes the most GB
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Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
research.rewheel.fi ©
Updated chart
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 19
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2.3 Most gigabytes for 40 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
During April 2019, as seen in the original chart below, 40 EUR (1,025.64 CZK) bought at most 10 gigabytes in Czechia. T-Mobile
sold during April 2019 a 4G smartphone plan with unlimited minutes and 10 gigabytes for 999 CZK (38.96 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 37th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 40 EUR
comparison. Only Greece, Hungary and Cyprus − markets with only 3 mobile network operators − and Canada a de-facto network
duopoly19 were more expensive than Czechia in this comparison.
In September 2019, after the launch of new 4G smartphone plans by all three Czech mobile operators 40 EUR (1,025.64 CZK)
bought consumers at most 14 gigabytes in Czechia, as seen in the updated chart above. O2 sold during September 2019 a 4G
smartphone plan with unlimited minutes and 14 gigabytes for 849 CZK (33.11 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 37th most expensive market. In September 2019 Czechia moved up the ranks by three places and
became the 34th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 40 EUR comparison.
19http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/Root_cause_weak_competition_Canada_wireless_market_PUBLIC.pdf
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How many 4G gigabytes 40 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 40 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited volume plans
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
research.rewheel.fi ©
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How many 4G gigabytes 40 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 40 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited volume plans
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
research.rewheel.fi ©
Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019
Updated chart
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 20
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2.4 Most gigabytes for 50 EUR − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
During April 2019 as seen in the original chart below 50 EUR (1,282.05 CZK) bought at most 14 gigabytes in Czechia. T-Mobile
sold during April 2019 a 4G smartphone plan with unlimited minutes and 14 gigabytes for 1,199 CZK (46.76 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 37th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 50 EUR
comparison. Only Greece, Cyprus and Portugal − markets with only 3 mobile network operators − and Canada a de-facto network
duopoly20 were more expensive than Czechia in this comparison.
In September 2019, after the launch of new 4G smartphone plans by all three Czech mobile operators 50 EUR (1,282.05 CZK)
bought consumers unlimited gigabytes in Czechia, as seen in the updated chart above. O2 sold during September 2019 a 4G
smartphone plan with unlimited minutes and unlimited data volume at maximum speed of 5 Mbits/s for 1,099 CZK (42.86 EUR).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 37th most expensive market. In September 2019 Czechia moved up the ranks by twenty-three places
and became the 14th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the most gigabytes for 50 EUR comparison.
The latest 4G smartphone tariffs launched by the three Czech mobile operators during August and September 2019 − beside
introducing for the first time the option of unlimited mobile data − have significantly improved the price competitiveness of the Czech
mobile market in the most gigabytes for 50 EUR metric.
20http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/Root_cause_weak_competition_Canada_wireless_market_PUBLIC.pdf
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How many 4G gigabytes 50 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 50 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
Unlimited volume plans
Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
research.rewheel.fi ©
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How many 4G gigabytes 50 EUR bought - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 20194G smartphone plan with at least 1,000 mins & 3Mbit/s speed for HD video per country that for 50 EUR or less includes the most GB
Unlimited volume plans were assinged 500 GB finite volume. Operator main, sub-brands and MVNOs included. If gigabytes were the same ranked by lowest price.
Unlimited volume plans
Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019
research.rewheel.fi ©
Updated chart
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 21
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At face value the recent introduction of 4G smartphone plans with unlimited data volume in the Czech mobile market appears to be
a rather significant, qualitative change. At closer inspection though, this development is not as significant as it first appears.
Simply put, while Czech consumers have finally been given the opportunity to buy 4G smartphone plans with unlimited data volume,
most of them will probably won’t subscribe to these unlimited plans because they can’t afford them.
The cheapest available 4G smartphone plan offered by O2 retails for 1,099 CZK (42.86 EUR) and has a maximum speed of just 5
Mbit/s. Czech consumers will need to pay 1,299CZK (50.66 EUR) per month to O2 to buy a plan with 20 Mbit/s and 1,599 CZK
(62.36 EUR) to buy a plan with unrestricted 4G speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s.
T-Mobile’s 4G smartphone plan that packs 50 gigabytes at full 4G speeds and unlimited data volume thereafter at reduced maximum
speed of 10 Mbit/s speeds − considered as unlimited data volume plan in accordance with DFMonitor’s methodology − retails for
1,275 CZK (49.73 EUR).
Vodafone’s unlimited data plans are not available on a stand-alone (unbundled) basis. If a consumer would like to purchase a 4G
smartphone plan with unlimited volume from Vodafone it is forced to buy minimum two smartphone plans for 998 CZK (38.92 EUR)
each and on top of that a UPC or another fixed broadband connection for a total monthly cost of 2,395 CZK (93.41 EUR).
So how affordable are for Czech consumers the recently launched 4G smartphone plans with unlimited data volume that retail from
1,099 CZK (42.86 EUR) to 1,599 CZK (62.36 EUR)?
According to our own intelligence − presented in our study21 titled ‘4G era, Who got the most out of it?’ that was released in May
2019 and examined the 5-year mobile service revenue trends for 143 operators present in EU28 & OECD markets − the 2018
Czech monthly mobile service revenue per capita was ~400 CZK (~15.60 EUR) while the Czech monthly mobile blended ARPU
was ~300 CZK (11.70 EUR).
Consumers in Czechia must double their average retail mobile communication spending of 500 CZK per month to over 1,000 CZK
in order to subscribe to the new unlimited data volume 4G smartphone plans. Is that a reasonable expectation?
Rewheel’s ARPU figure for the Czech mobile market is line with O2’s own reported22 figures for 2018, shown in the screenshot
below. O2 reported a 296 CZK blended ARPU, a 368 CZK contract ARPU and a 124 CZK prepaid ARPU in 2018. Hence, O2’s
entry retail price of 1,099 (42.86 EUR) for a 4G smartphone plan with unlimited volume is out of reach for all of its prepaid subscribers
and most likely for the overwhelming majority of its contract subscribers.
As seen in the table below T-Mobile’s 2018 reported23 blended ARPU of 10 EUR (~256 CZK), contract ARPU of 13 EUR (~333
CZK) and pre-paid ARPU of 4 EUR (~103 CZK) are even lower than those reported by O2.
We used the average (i.e. 1 EUR = 25.64458) of the 1Q, 2Q, 3Q and 4Q 2018 T-Mobile reported exchange rates to convert the
EUR blended, contract and prepaid ARPU shown in the table below to the approximate CZK amounts shown in the statement
above.
21http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/Mobile_service_revenue_EU28_OECD_2013_2018_PUBLIC.pdf 22https://www.o2.cz/spolecnost/en/financial-and-operational-data-overview/rok_2018.html#leden_prosinec_2018 23https://www.telekom.com/en/investor-relations/publications/financial-results
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 22
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This raises the following question. What is the share of consumers that subscribe to smartphone plans that cost more than 1,000
CZK per month in the Czech mobile market today?
We believe, based on O2’s and T-Mobile’s reported contract ARPUs of 368 and 333 CZK, that no more than 10% of all consumers
in the Czech mobile market today subscribe to expensive plans that cost more than 1,000 CZK and therefore conclude that the
recent introduction of 4G smartphone plans with unlimited data volume that cost 1,099 CZK (~43 EUR) or more per month did not
significantly improve the overall price competitiveness of the Czech mobile market and consequently the welfare of Czech
consumers.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 23
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2.5 Country median gigabyte price − Czechia versus EU28 & OECD markets
During April 2019, as seen in the original chart below, the country median gigabyte price in Czechia was 3.90 EUR (100 CZK).
In April 2019 Czechia was the 31st most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the country median gigabyte price
comparison. Only Korea, Greece, Canada, Hungary, Portugal, Norway, Japan, US and Mexico – all markets with only 3 mobile
network operators with the exception of US that had 4-MNOs and Canada which is a de-facto network duopoly24 − were more
expensive than Czechia in this comparison.
The country median gigabyte price in the Czech mobile market during April 2019 was nearly 2x higher than the median gigabyte
price in EU28 (1.9 EUR) and roughly 1/3 higher than the median gigabyte price in 3-MNO markets (2.9 EUR).
In September 2019, after the launch of new 4G smartphone plans by all three Czech mobile operators the country median gigabyte
price in Czechia fell significantly to 2.52 EUR (64.62 CZK) as seen in the updated chart above.
24http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/Root_cause_weak_competition_Canada_wireless_market_PUBLIC.pdf
3.9
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Country median gigabyte price - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia April 2019Fully allocated country median gigabyte price of 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and 3Mbit/s for HD video
Fully allocated GB price: tariff retail monthly price (incl. VAT) divided by included gigabyte allowance. 3-MNO markets (25 countries), 4-MNO markets (16) Median price among all eligible plans logged in the database for country or group of countries. Unlimited plans were assinged500 GB finite volume. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia April 2019
research.rewheel.fi ©
Original chart
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Country median gigabyte price - EU28 & OECD April 2019 vs. Czechia September 2019Fully allocated country median gigabyte price of 4G smartphone plans with at least 1,000 minutes and 3Mbit/s for HD video
Fully allocated GB price: tariff retail monthly price (incl. VAT) divided by included gigabyte allowance. 3-MNO markets (25 countries), 4-MNO markets (16) Median price among all eligible plans logged in the database for country or group of countries. Unlimited plans were assinged500 GB finite volume. Prices: EU28 & OECD April 2019, Czechia September 2019
research.rewheel.fi ©
Updated chart
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 24
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In April 2019 Czechia was the 31st most expensive market. In September 2019 Czechia moved up the ranks by seven places and
became the 24th most expensive market among EU28 & OECD countries in the country median gigabyte price comparison.
The country median gigabyte price in the Czech mobile market during September 2019 was more than 30% higher than the median
gigabyte price in EU28 (1.9 EUR) and ~14% lower than the median gigabyte price in 3-MNO markets (2.9 EUR).
The country median gigabyte price metric is the median price among all eligible plans logged in the database for a given country
or a group of counties. It is worth noting that the median gigabyte price operation is sensitive to the number and type of plans that
are sold in a country.
For example, if in a given country every operator sell just two plans at affordable 20 to 30 EUR monthly prices that packed few
gigabytes (such plans have high fully allocated gigabyte prices) and three or more unlimited data volume plans tiered on speed at
expensive 40 to 60 EUR monthly prices (such plans have very low fully allocated gigabyte prices because the plans’ monthly price
is divided by 500 gigabytes) then the median gigabyte price in that country will be determined by the expensive 40 to 60 EUR rather
than the mass-market affordable priced 20 to 30 EUR plans.
Hence, the country median gigabyte price in September 2019 in Czechia will jump from 2.52 EUR (64.62 CZK) to 6.08 EUR (155.90
CZK) if we exclude from the median operation all expensive (i.e. unaffordable for the mass-market considering the average Czech
consumer spends today around 500 CZK per month) plans that cost more than 40 EUR (1025.64 CZK) per month.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 25
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Disclaimer
Rewheel analysis presented herein is based solely on the factual tariff information that were available at the time of collection on
the operator websites and which we were able to discover. The findings of our analysis are based on our best understanding of the
tariffs’ terms and conditions presented by the operators.
All of our research studies and DFMonitor’s price comparison benchmarks are independently conducted without any prejudice or
interference from any of the market participants. No previous Rewheel research study has been directly commissioned, indirectly
sponsored or influenced in any way by market participants (e.g. MNOs or MVNOs, etc.).
Rewheel conducts paid independent research, like this study, only for non-market participants such as Governments, sector
regulators, national/supranational competition authorities or other independent supervisory authorities.
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 26
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About Rewheel
New radio spectrum bands, 4.5G and 5G technology, unlimited mobile data plans and the Internet of Things radically change mobile
network operators’ cost, revenue and profitability dynamics. Rewheel's mission is to help operators prepare for the paradigm
shift in network and spectrum strategy, spectrum valuation, network sharing, M&A, MVNO economics and mobile data
pricing.
Founded in 2009, Rewheel is a Finland based boutique management consultancy. Our clients are mainly European mobile network
operators, telco groups, MVNO groups, sector regulators, competition authorities, governments, global internet firms, mobile data-
centric start-ups, PE and VC investors.
We delivered management consultancy work for clients in the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Switzerland, Finland,
Sweden, Belgium, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, Russia, Romania.
The following authorities have acquired access to our research: The European Commission Directorate for Competition, the United
States Department of Justice, the New York, California and many other US State Attorney General Offices, the national competition
authorities of Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, the Ministry of Industry
and Trade of Czechia, the Korean Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute, the sector regulators of the United
Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, etc.
Rewheel's mobile data technology, network-economics, spectrum, profitability and competitiveness focused reports have been
cited by OECD Economic Surveys, The Economist, The Financial Times, The New York Times, Reuters, Bloomberg, WSJ and
publicly referenced by the UK telecoms regulator Ofcom, BIPT, Vodafone, Telefonica, Tele2, Elisa, DNA, GSMA, VPs of the EU
Commission responsible for Competition, MEPs, IEEE, ITU.
Since 2010 we have been supporting a number of European challenger mobile operators in multiband (700, 700 SDL, 800, 900,
1400 SDL, 1800, 2600, 3.5 GHz) auctions with spectrum valuation and strategic advisory services.
Network economics metrics
For comprehensive data usage, spectrum usage and capacity utilisation metrics in EU28 and OECD markets visit
http://research.rewheel.fi/networkeconomics/
Recent Rewheel research reports
Root cause of weak competition in the Canadian wireless market
http://research.rewheel.fi/downloads/Root_cause_weak_competition_Canada_wireless_market_PUBLIC.pdf
4G era – Who got the most out of it?
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2019_may_pro_4G_who_got_most_of_it_revenue_growth/
The state of 4G pricing – 1H2019 – Digital Fuel Monitor 11th release
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2019_apr_pro_1h2019_release/
4G prices as a function market concentration, no. of MNOs, subscriber share, position, group affiliation and country
general price level
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2019_jan_pro_4G_prices_as_a_function_of/
liad’s 4th MNO venture into Italy – Will it pay off?
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2019_jan_pro_iliad_italy/
T-Mobile and Tele2 4 to 3 mobile merger in the Netherlands – Competition concerns, efficiencies and effective remedies
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2018_nov_pro_tele2_t-mobile_nl/
The state of 4G pricing – 2H2018 – Digital Fuel Monitor 10th release
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2018_oct_pro_2h2018_release/
Capacity utilization and fixed-to-mobile broadband substitution potential with existing macro site grids – 2017
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2018_sep_pro_capacity/
Competitiveness of Czech mobile data prices − April versus September 2019 27
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The 4 to 3 consolidation effect – Ahead of the Commission’s merger ruling Tele2 increased prices in the Netherlands
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2018_july_pro_T-mobile-Tele2_Netherlands/
The state of 4G pricing – 1H2018 – Digital Fuel Monitor 9th release
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2018_may_pro_1h2018_release/
Gigabyte price development in 4 to 3 consolidated versus 4-MNO European markets – September 2013 to March 2018
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2018_apr_pro_4to3_consolidation_vs_4MNO/
The state of 4G pricing – 2H2017 – Digital Fuel Monitor 8th release
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2017_nov_pro_2h2017_release/
Unlimited mobile data and near zero marginal cost – a paradigm shift in telco business models
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2017_sep_pro_near_zero_marginal_cost/
O2 – Ready to disrupt the German tight oligopoly market
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2017_apr_pro_o2_germany_turnaround/
Capacity utilization and fixed-to-mobile broadband substitution potential – A study of 64 European operators
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2017_mar_pro_network_utilisation_mimo/
Effective structural remedies for Hutchison-WIND 4 to 3 Italian mobile merger
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2016_sept_premium_italy_hutch_wind_merger/
Telenor Denmark – Turnaround strategy
http://research.rewheel.fi/insights/2016_apr_premium_telenor_denmark_turnaround/
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