The area of device financing and distribution has become increasingly dynamic as operators have sought to expand consumer choice and flexibility in this area, while reducing their own costs. Instalment billing and the separation of handset and service fees have provided scope for innovation and differentiation in this area. Despite the potential benefits of innovation in this area, some operators have so far appeared reticent to explore opportunities to update their approach to device distribution. Others have questioned the need to remain a key player in the device distribution market.
This report examines the impact that instalment billing has had on operator business metrics in order to identify the potential benefits and costs to MNOs. It also looks at recent developments in device financing and distribution to illustrate the options open to operators currently considering the move away from traditional subsidy models.
Companies: AT&T, Apple, Orange, Sprint, Telefonica, Verizon, Vodafone, Bouygues Telecom, T-Mobile, Sunrise Communication, Brightstar Corporation, HYLA Mobile, Vivo Brazil, Telenor Montenegro, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Google, Tele2, Maxis, Three, Free, Orange Horizons, PayJoy
Countries: Netherlands, France, US, Switzerland, Spain, Brazil, Montenegro, India, Austria, Malaysia, UK, France, South Africa
Keywords: e-SIM, ARPU, instalment billing, BYOD, handset replacement, EBITDA, device management, discount instalment billing, device financing, outsourcing, distribution, device penetration, leasing, incentives, regulators, distribution costs, collateral, Handset, trade-in, handset recycling, reverse subsidy, iPhone, churn, device sales, companion device, secondary device, early upgrade, disintermediation, subsidies, SIM-only, device, loyalty, retention cost, handset rental, subscriber acquisition cost,
1 |
Overview |
1 |
2 |
Introduction |
2 |
2.1 |
Background to the Report |
2 |
2.2 |
Report Content |
3 |
2.3 |
Currency and Conversions |
3 |
2.4 |
Further Questions and Feedback |
4 |
3 |
Device Finance/Distribution Importance |
5 |
3.1 |
Increased Revenues |
5 |
3.2 |
Penetration of Smartphones/4G Phones |
5 |
3.3 |
Acquisition |
5 |
3.4 |
Loyalty and Retention |
5 |
3.5 |
Ongoing Customer Relationship |
6 |
3.6 |
E-SIM Challenges |
6 |
3.7 |
Regulation |
6 |
4 |
The Demise of Device Subsidies? |
8 |
5 |
Instalment Billing Approaches |
10 |
5.1 |
Overview |
10 |
5.2 |
Market Experiences of Postpay Instalment Billing |
10 |
5.2.1 |
T-Mobile and the US Experience |
10 |
5.2.2 |
Sunrise Communications Group in Switzerland |
14 |
5.2.3 |
Telefónica and Vodafone in Spain |
15 |
5.3 |
Instalment Device Finance Approaches |
15 |
5.3.1 |
SIM-only Plans |
15 |
5.3.2 |
Early Upgrades |
16 |
5.3.3 |
Operating a Separate Consumer Finance Business |
19 |
5.3.4 |
Handset Financing for Prepay Customers |
20 |
6 |
Innovation in Financing and Distribution |
22 |
6.1 |
Introduction |
22 |
6.2 |
Discounted Instalment Billing |
22 |
6.2.1 |
Full Price Phone, Discounted Services |
23 |
6.3 |
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) |
25 |
6.4 |
Outsourcing (Brightstar) |
26 |
6.5 |
Incentivised Handset Recycling |
27 |
6.6 |
Handset Rental |
29 |
6.7 |
The Orange Store |
30 |
6.8 |
PayJoy |
31 |
6.9 |
Second Device/Companion Device Financing |
32 |
7 |
Key Findings |
34 |
8 |
Recommendations |
36 |
|
Appendix – Feedback Questions |
37 |
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