Page 107 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Majority of Residents in the Netherlands are Overpaying for Internet

The majority of Dutch residents with fixed an average of 41 euros per month. While to inform consumers when their contract
and mobile internet subscriptions have Dutch internet is known for being slow expires. We have signals that this is not
contracts which have been automatically and pricey compared to neighboring done, or not done properly. We will keep
extended after expiring. Customers with countries, according to Manon Leijten, a close eye on this." There are various
these so-called dormant contracts often a board member of ACM, switching or reasons that residents do not change their
pay more than those who regularly switch renewing contracts can save internet users subscriptions: some do not know their
or renew their subscriptions, especially as a substantial amount of money. "Especially contract has expired or do not know the
providers often offer discounts as part of at low speeds, it can save you up to 250 advantages of renewing it, while others
new subscriptions. A prime example of this euros per year to renew your contract,” find it too much of a hassle or are happy
is shown in the data gathered by ACM where Leijten told NOS. “Those are considerable with their current contract. The Dutch
households with internet subscriptions in amounts." Dutch internet providers need to organization wants internet providers to be
the budget segment have lower internet better inform customers while customers more upfront with customers about which
speeds and often pay more compared to can save a lot by switching contracts, it rates are the most advantageous, so that
those with higher speeds. For speeds of is not always as easy as it sounds. "We users can see how much they can save
up to 100 Mbps, the average monthly cost receive reports that people are sometimes with different subscriptions and therefore
is 44 euros, while someone with internet without internet for days after switching,” make an informed decision.
speeds between 250 and 750 Mbps pays stated Leijten. “Providers are also required

5G Adoption in Europe is Falling Behind, Says GSMA

A new GSMA report focusing on the mobile attention is now being turned to 5G the difficult operating conditions facing
economy in Europe shows that while 5G standalone (5G SA) and 5G-Advanced (5G- European operators,” commented GSMA.
will become the dominant mobile A). More specifically, only around 15% of “Recent 5G SA launches by EE in the UK
technology in Europe by 2026, the continent operators in Europe with live 5G networks and Free in France suggest 5G SA
lags behind other regions including North had launched 5G SA by the end of Q3 2024, deployments are gathering pace, but the
America, East Asia and the Gulf Cooperation compared to more than 30% in Asia Pacific speed of rollouts remains slower than
Council (GCC) states, where the firm says and North America. “This is indicative of many industry players anticipated a few
years ago.” And when it comes the 5G
experience, Europe is also falling behind —
the average 5G download speeds by the
end of 2023 in the region had reached
approximately 230 Mbps. While a more
than fivefold increase from the 44 Mbps of
4G speeds, the GCC states and in developed
Asia Pacific continue to surpass those
seen in Europe, particularly when it comes
to download speeds. At the close of last
year, 5G accounted for 30% of mobile
connections in — equivalent to 200 million
connections. Denmark, Finland, Germany,
Norway, Switzerland and the UK showed
themselves to be leaders, with each country
achieving a more than a 40% 5G adoption
rate.

107 JAN-FEB 2025