Court Clears T-Mobile US to Take Over Sprint

T-Mobile US has secured clearance for its takeover of Sprint, after a U.S. federal court rejected an appeal from state attorneys general who opposed the deal. T-Mobile and Sprint, which are the country’s third- and fourth-largest operators, respectively, hope to complete the deal by 1 April, nearly two years after the merger was first announced. 

In the summer of 2019, over a dozen states, led by New York and California, launched a lawsuit against the merger, saying that the deal would reduce competition and result in higher prices for consumers. The states filed the appeal despite the fact that the merger had already secured conditional approval from the FCC—the main U.S regulator—and the U.S. Department of Justice.

T-Mobile and Sprint argued that the merger would help them compete better against market leaders AT&T and Verizon. They also said that it would help them roll out a 5G network and improve broadband services more quickly. The agreements with the FCC and the DoJ included plans to spin off assets to Dish Network, which would thus be enabled to build its own mobile network business and expand broadband coverage in the U.S.  

The judge in the U.S. federal court for the Southern District of New York heard the case in December. The ruling, just published, is that the merger is not expected to significantly lessen competition. 

T-Mobile and Sprint still have certain regulatory formalities to complete before the merger is finalized, such as approval from another court for the settlement with the DoJ. In addition, they must agree to the financial conditions of the all-stock deal, following the fluctuations in their share prices since the merger was first announced in April 2018. 

The proposed—and now all-but-certain—merger between the two smallest of the Big Four mobile operators in the U.S. has been controversial from the moment it was announced. Opponents, such as the coalition of state governments that filed the suit, have argued that the $26.5 billion deal will reduce competition in the U.S. mobile market and thus lead to higher prices and potentially worse service for consumers. The operators, on the other hand, argue that the new combined entity will be able, by virtue of its size, to challenge the Big Two, AT&T and Verizon, with a new level of effectiveness.

In his opinion, the U.S. District Court judge, Victor Marrero, cited T-Mobile CEO John Legere’s disruptive “Uncarrier”strategy. “T-Mobile has redefined itself over the past decade as a maverick that has spurred the two largest players in its industry to make numerous pro-consumer changes,” he wrote. “The proposed merger would allow the merged company to continue T-Mobile’s undeniably successful business strategy for the foreseeable future.” T-Mobile’s hitherto-successful strategy, deployed against the competition with even greater resources at its command, could indeed have a seismic effect on the market, for good or ill. For its part, T-Mobile states that for its existing customers and Sprint’s existing customers, prices for service will either remain the same or go lower over the next three years.

Another touted advantage of the deal is 5G development. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai hailed the judge’s decision by saying that “the T-Mobile–Sprint merger will help close the digital divide and secure United States leadership in 5G.” Wider availability of 5G, and faster rollout thereof, certainly would benefit consumers.

One interesting issue relating the merger has to do with the budget-minded market. Both T-Mobile and Sprint maintained budget brands—Metro and Boost, respectively—that competed with each other in the prepaid sector. If the operators merge, this competition will go away, with the potential that the prepaid market will be underserved. And as the states fear, there could be an upward pressure on prices in general due to the reduction in the number of operators, and that would be particularly bad for the lowest-echelon users.

If this occurs, it could paradoxically open up a new opportunity zone in the marketplace. If the major operators cater less and less to prepaid and other cost-conscious users, MVNOs could enter the breach and get those customers on board. There could be a veritable proliferation of virtual operators in the space, so if the merger goes ahead to completion, as now appears almost certain, we believe that existing MVNOs should watch closely for underserved customers, and entrepreneurs may want to launch virtual brands in the near future.

Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance.  

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com 

Amazon Considering Buying Boost Mobile

U.S.-based global e-commerce giant Amazon is looking into acquiring U.S. operator Sprint’s Boost Mobile MVNO brand, according to news report. The U.S. regulator FCC has told Sprint that is has to sell the unit if it wants to get its $26 billion merger with T-Mobile US approved. Sources said that Amazon is mainly interested in the fact that any deal will allow the buyer of Boost Mobile to use T-Mobile’s network for at least six years. Amazon has reportedly also expressed interest in buying any other spectrum frequencies that Sprint and T-Mobile might divest as part of the deal.

The sale of Boost could bring in US $3 billion, according to potential bidders. Other parties interested in the deal include Q Link Wireless, a private equity firm working with FreedomPop and the former owner of Boost Mobile.

The news this week that Amazon is considering acquiring mobile spectrum left analysts wondering what the purpose might be. Would Amazon really want to become a mobile operator, taking the U.S. total back up to four just as the Sprint–T-Mobile merger (if it happens) brought it down to three? It seems preposterous, given the intense regulation of the mobile telecom market, the high costs of running a network and the fact that revenue from traditional mobile services is declining, in general. What’s more, if Amazon really wanted to add mobile telecom services to the diversified slate of services it already offers, it could simply start an MVNO and run it on someone else’s network, at immense cost savings.

So we have to assume that Amazon—if indeed it is seriously contemplating such a move—wants the spectrum for some purpose other than starting its own MNO. We can imagine several. For one, having its own spectrum could be of great use to Amazon if it implements delivery services via drones and automated vehicles, which are in development. Second, even as things currently stand, Amazon’s business depends on the internet of things and automation at many levels, and having its own network could be advantageous in that respect. And third, Amazon has a longstanding policy of offering as many goods and services as possible and controlling as many stages of the sales process as possible; therefore having mobile spectrum at its disposal could be a way of extending that control, perhaps even to some extent over mobile devices, which are increasingly the point of sale for Amazon products.

Some analysts have questioned the wisdom of Amazon buying spectrum, citing the costs and risks. However, we would prefer to withhold judgment, because of the company’s history of successful diversification and vertical integration, and because of its extremely deep pockets, which make investments that would be risky for just about any other entity less risky. If Amazon really is going to go ahead with the plan to buy Boost Mobile and thereby get access to T-Mobile network assets for six years, it may well find a way to utilize that to its benefit before that time period is up. Drones and automated delivery vehicles may sound fanciful now but Amazon takes them seriously in its vision for the future. The e-commerce giant can certainly afford to play a long game.

Tarifica’s products and services are powered by large-scale data from the global telecom industry and a deep level of expertise gained from our singular focus. We leverage these core attributes to help our clients understand their markets and answer their most challenging questions. Our team of analysts, software engineers and data scientists deliver real-time dynamic solutions for the telecom industry. Our software and state of the art data extraction techniques enable our clients to make smart decisions in real-time based on insightful, actionable data.

We are the telecom plan & pricing experts.

 If you have any questions about this article, feel free to contact our Editor-in-chief John Dorfman at jdorfman@tarifica.com

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com 

Sprint Releases a Wireless Device for Drivers

U.S. operator Sprint has launched Sprint Drive, a new product that allows parents to monitor their teenage children while they are behind the wheel and also gives and businesses a way to monitors their fleets of motor vehicles. Sprint Drive is a small wireless device that plugs into a car’s steering system and keeps drivers connected to their cars while providing real-time information via a smartphone or other mobile browser.

Powered by the HARMAN Ignite automotive cloud platform, Sprint Drive features include real-time vehicle location and monitoring; trip history and aggressive driver alerts such as hard acceleration and braking; 4G/LTE Wi-Fi for in-vehicle productivity and entertainment; roadside assistance; vehicle health notification alerts, and hotline advice from certified mechanics.

Sprint Drive lets parents monitor their teen drivers with real-time tracking, follow the vehicle’s location and send an alert if the child goes beyond set boundaries. Sprint Drive also lets parents review their teen’s driving skills and habits. Sprint Drive lets business owners monitor a fleet of up to 25 vehicles, either from the office or from a mobile device. With the 4G/LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, passengers can work on emails or stay entertained by connecting up to eight devices to Sprint’s 4G/LTE network.

Starting on 21 November, customers can get the Sprint Drive device free for a limited time with a 24-month installment plan and qualifying data plan. Customers can choose either Sprint Drive Unlimited (priced at US $25.00 per month per line with Unlimited Mobile Hotspot) and Sprint Drive 2 GB (priced at US $10.00 per month per line with 2 GB of Mobile Hotspot).

IoT devices, whether consumer or business-oriented, do best when tightly targeted at specific needs. Identifying these needs is, therefore, key to success in this sector. In this case, Sprint has been asking the right questions and listening to the answers. Almost nine out of 10 parents of new drivers throughout the U.S. told the operator that they would like to be able to monitor their child’s driving habits. Sprint Drive fills that need very directly and simply, and while the idea of monitoring someone else’s movements might seem at odds with the privacy that mobile users increasingly demand, when it comes to children and parents, safety concerns come first, and parents are legally in the clear when it comes to monitoring the movements of a vehicle they own.

As for businesses, monitoring and tracking a fleet of company cars or trucks is, of course, very desirable. For both business and consumer users, Sprint is offering the service at a low price and in a way that evidently does not require any complex, bulky or invasive presence of technology in the vehicle.

For an operator to partner with technology developers such as HARMAN Ignite is a savvy move and places that operator in a position to be a player in an automotive IoT space that is occupied by many entities that are not mobile operators. As such, solutions such as Sprint Drive represent a path toward diversifying and increasing relevance. This is also a way to increase an operator’s subscriber base.

Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance.  

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com 

Verizon Wireless to Stop Throttling Video Speeds on Unlimited Plans

U.S. MNO Verizon Wireless has announced that starting on 3 November it is removing restrictions on video speeds for subscribers to its unlimited-data plans. In late August, the operator imposed limits on video streaming, with the lower-priced GoUnlimited offering 480p and the higher-priced BeyondUnlimited offering 780p. The 1080p speed was no longer available on any smartphones, even those with the capability of accommodating it; only on tablets would subscribers be able to access 1080p video. Now Verizon is allowing video streaming up to the maximum possible for any given device, as a plan add-on, at the cost of US 10.00 per month.
 
While the cost of this add-on will not break the bank for high-end users already paying for “unlimited” data and running sophisticated devices, it may annoy some, in that the operator is now charging customers for a service that was free and taken for granted only several months ago. Presumably Verizon heard complaints from users about lower video quality due to speed limits, but rather than simply restoring them it decided to impose a charge. The charge could have the positive effects for the operator such as bringing in revenue, discouraging network congestion, or both, but it could also create some bad publicity for it.
 
Criticism of U.S. operators for plans that are advertised as “unlimited” but actually contain limits has been ongoing for a while now, and U.S. regulators have warned them not to throttle ordinary data speeds. Limiting video quality (“DVD-quality” versus various degrees of “HD”) is in a different category, but the practice nonetheless strikes many consumers as undesirable. With continuous increases in smartphone quality, more and more users are watching video on these devices, and demand for a high-quality moving image is increasing accordingly. Therefore, charging for a feature that used to be free is an issue that will affect a significant number of customers and so could have a negative effect on perceptions of Verizon.
 
On the other hand, Verizon is not alone in charging extra for high-definition video streaming. AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint all do so, and the pricing is comparable to Verizon’s. Perhaps, then, unlimited access to video speed at no extra charge is a thing of the past, and U.S. customers will simply have to get used to paying extra for the highest quality. 

Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance. 

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com 

U.S. Regulator’s Finding Could Aid T-Mobile–Sprint Merger

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. regulatory agency, voted to approve a report that stated that there is “effective competition” in the U.S. mobile market for the first time since 2009, according to a news report. The finding is a strong indication that the FCC will be favorable to the proposed merger between the third and fourth ranking mobile operators in the U.S., T-Mobile and Sprint, which are said to be close to an agreement.
 
The commissioners, however, were not unanimous in their opinion; the vote was 3–2. The agency’s chairman, Ajit Pai, was in favor, stating, “Most reasonable people see a fiercely competitive marketplace. This is strong, incontrovertible evidence.” On the other hand, one of the Commissioners, Jessica Rosenworcel, said, “While this report celebrates the presence of four nationwide wireless providers, let’s be mindful that a transaction may soon be announced that seeks to combine two of these four. For my part, any transaction before us will require someone to explain how consumers will benefit, how prices will not rise, and how innovation will not dissipate in the face of so much more industry concentration.”
 
And the other dissenting voice came from Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who stated that the report at hand “takes a decidedly myopic view of the ecosystem, and instead focuses only on ‘competition in the provision of mobile wireless services.’ This is like a doctor looking at one organ and pronouncing a patient fit as a fiddle.”
 
While it is outside the scope of these remarks to assess the rights and wrongs of the competition report that came before the FCC, we can cite the FCC itself to state that the four major U.S. operators control 98.8 percent of the market. The current number of operators represents a significant reduction from the seven that divided the market between them 10 years ago, so the question of what the market would be like if it were consolidated to three is obviously a pressing one.
 
In finding the mobile landscape to be more than adequately competitive, one of the facts that the report and the approving commissioners stressed is that prices have gone down over the past six years, despite the investment of $200 billion made by the operators in their networks.
 
However, one could argue that one of the major reasons for the downward trend in prices has been the massive disruptive “Un-carrier” strategy pursued by T-Mobile, which is firmly based on undercutting the competition on price. If the merger were to go ahead, would the resulting third operator continue to pursue such a strategy, in order to vanquish AT&T and Verizon? Or would it become more complacent? Presumably, with T-Mobile the senior partner in the deal, the new entity’s goals would be more those of T-Mobile than of Sprint, as currently constituted.
 
In any case, whether a merger would be good or bad for the U.S. mobile market, the FCC’s stance on competition makes it seem likely that it will give its blessing to the union. That represents a turnaround since 2014, the last time T-Mobile and Sprint announced merger talks. At that time, the Obama-era FCC and Justice department said that they would not give the green light to a merger and the deal was dropped.

Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance. 

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com 

U.S. Regulator’s Finding Could Aid T-Mobile–Sprint Merger

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. regulatory agency, voted to approve a report that stated that there is “effective competition” in the U.S. mobile market for the first time since 2009, according to a news report. The finding is a strong indication that the FCC will be favorable to the proposed merger between the third and fourth ranking mobile operators in the U.S., T-Mobile and Sprint, which are said to be close to an agreement.
 The commissioners, however, were not unanimous in their opinion; the vote was 3–2. The agency’s chairman, Ajit Pai, was in favor, stating, “Most reasonable people see a fiercely competitive marketplace. This is strong, incontrovertible evidence.” On the other hand, one of the Commissioners, Jessica Rosenworcel, said, “While this report celebrates the presence of four nationwide wireless providers, let’s be mindful that a transaction may soon be announced that seeks to combine two of these four. For my part, any transaction before us will require someone to explain how consumers will benefit, how prices will not rise, and how innovation will not dissipate in the face of so much more industry concentration.”
 
And the other dissenting voice came from Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who stated that the report at hand “takes a decidedly myopic view of the ecosystem, and instead focuses only on ‘competition in the provision of mobile wireless services.’ This is like a doctor looking at one organ and pronouncing a patient fit as a fiddle.”
 
 
While it is outside the scope of these remarks to assess the rights and wrongs of the competition report that came before the FCC, we can cite the FCC itself to state that the four major U.S. operators control 98.8 percent of the market. The current number of operators represents a significant reduction from the seven that divided the market between them 10 years ago, so the question of what the market would be like if it were consolidated to three is obviously a pressing one.
 
In finding the mobile landscape to be more than adequately competitive, one of the facts that the report and the approving commissioners stressed is that prices have gone down over the past six years, despite the investment of $200 billion made by the operators in their networks.
 
However, one could argue that one of the major reasons for the downward trend in prices has been the massive disruptive “Un-carrier” strategy pursued by T-Mobile, which is firmly based on undercutting the competition on price. If the merger were to go ahead, would the resulting third operator continue to pursue such a strategy, in order to vanquish AT&T and Verizon? Or would it become more complacent? Presumably, with T-Mobile the senior partner in the deal, the new entity’s goals would be more those of T-Mobile than of Sprint, as currently constituted.
 
In any case, whether a merger would be good or bad for the U.S. mobile market, the FCC’s stance on competition makes it seem likely that it will give its blessing to the union. That represents a turnaround since 2014, the last time T-Mobile and Sprint announced merger talks. At that time, the Obama-era FCC and Justice department said that they would not give the green light to a merger and the deal was dropped.


Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance. 

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com 

Essential Telecommunications Pricing Tool

Tarifica’s mobile pricing database is a powerful tool for efficiently searching, sorting, retrieving and analyzing Tarifica’s vast repository of mobile data, which currently includes every plan, package, offer and price from over 275 mobile operators in 73 countries Worldwide. It has dynamic search capabilities that enable users to gain competitive intelligence across countries, regions or the entire globe. The interface is intuitive, making for a user-friendly experience with a very short learning curve. It has proven to be the most valuable interactive tool used by international telecommunication mobile service operator pricing and marketing specialists.

Preview Tarifica's database now: Tarifica Mobile Database Features & Highlights

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit:  www.tarifica.com 

Sprint Acquires Stake in Jay Z’s Tidal Music Service

U.S. operator Sprint has agreed to buy a 33 percent stake in the music streaming service Tidal. As part of the deal, Tidal and its artists will create exclusive content for Sprint customers. No financial details of the deal were disclosed, although Sprint is said to have paid around US $200 million. The rapper Jay Z, his wife Beyoncé and the other artist-owners of Tidal will continue to run Tidal’s service, while Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure will join Tidal’s board of directors. Sprint and Tidal will also create a dedicated marketing fund specifically for artists, which will allow them the flexibility to create and share their work with and for their fans. The partnership follows Tidal’s recent unveiling of Master quality recordings, as it continues to focus on the high end of the streaming market. Tidal is available in more than 52 countries, offering over 42.5 million songs and 140,000 videos. First launched by the Swedish company Aspiro, Tidal was acquired in 2015 by a company backed by Jay Z and relaunched in more markets.

In the ongoing drive for mobile operators to stay relevant and not devolve into being mere providers of a commodity-type service, streaming entertainment content—especially exclusive content—has emerged as a major factor. Sprint’s purchase of a large stake in Tidal instantly makes the U.S. operator, which is majority-owned by Japan-based Softbank, a player in the streaming music game. Tidal is not one of the biggest music providers; Spotify, one of the global leaders, has 43 million subscribers, while Tidal claims 3 million and some reports say only 1 million.

Still, we think the acquisition of the stake is a coup for Sprint. For one thing, the fact that Tidal will create content exclusively for the operator means that Sprint will have a powerful tool with which to retain subscribers and attract new ones. For the operator, Tidal will be a brand enhancer that can sharpen the competitive edge. In addition, while Tidal’s customer base may be small, the company targets a high-end demographic with its relatively high pricing. And the fact that it is artist-controlled not only ensures that its offerings will be high-quality, it also affords another marketing opportunity to Sprint, which will be able to enlist the celebrity artists for promotional campaigns.

Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance.

To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com 

Tarifica Mobile Database Alert Service

Tarifica’s Mobile Database now provides customizable alerts that notify subscribers of changes in mobile plans and offers. Instead of having to search through press releases, competitors' websites and advertisements, the Tarifica Mobile Database will instantly alert users whenever a plan with specified features has been added, updated or removed from the database.




Database subscribers can build personalized alerts tailored to their needs and interests based on dozens of distinct plan and offer characteristics.

 Examples include:
¨ New competitive promotions including seasonal specials
¨ Changes to the price of a selected device (such as the iPhone 6 Plus)
¨ Notifications when plans are no longer available
¨ Advisories on the launch of new value added plan partnerships (for example, Netflix or Spotify)
¨ Updates to international and roaming rates to/for selected countries
¨ Changes in service allowances expected to follow network enhancements


Database Example:

The Newsfeed

In addition to receiving email alerts of critical plan changes, this information will also be stored and presented in the subscriber's Newsfeed. This feature displays all of the user's Alerts by category. By selecting an Alert, the subscriber will be able to view every affected plan with indicators for newly added plans, existing plans that were modified and plans that were removed. Subscribers can use this feature to track every development in their market at a high level or leverage it to focus on changes to a single feature or series of plans. Users can also select any of the plans and immediately view every associated rate, feature, service and device.

The Newsfeed Features

¨ Clear indication of new, modified and removed items
¨ Alerts are categorized and listed separately for easy viewing
¨ Each Alert shows the number of notifications received
¨ Alerts can be viewed or hidden with a single click
¨ Date of Alert and the impacted plan names are clearly displayed
¨ All plan details are available by selecting “View Details” (sample shown on the next page)

Database Example:

View Details Display

¨ This view displays all of a plan's rates, included services, devices and associated features
¨ Modified plans are shown in side-by-side format with changes noted via a yellow dot on the left side of the screen, making it easy for users to see the evolution of the market


Database Example:

The Mobile Database

The Tarifica Mobile Database tracks every plan, offer and bundle from every major mobile operator in 66 countries around the world. For each consumer and business plan, the database tracks and displays every rate, included feature and restriction. This information provides subscribers with three critical services.

First, many subscribers rely on the Tarifica Mobile Database to monitor their rivals and the competitive environment in their market. Since the database tracks every mobile plan and displays this information in a clear and standardized fashion, it can free up the hundreds of hours of staff time that were previously invested in collecting this information by combing through competitors' websites, press releases, news articles, and other sources. With the Tarifica Mobile Database, subscribers can simply log on and know that they have comprehensive, up-to-date information at their fingertips.

Second, the Tarifica Mobile Database facilitates deeper and broader analyses of the mobile marketplace, both within a single country and across national boundaries than is possible with other tools. Unlike Excel based solutions for data gathering, the Tarifica Mobile Database is a true relational database and includes tools for easy searching, sorting and graphing of the data on any number of service and pricing elements thus enabling users to complete market research projects that would otherwise have been too resource intensive to undertake. Now, with the alert service subscribers can save even more time by bypassing having to search the database for critical information. In short, the Tarifica Mobile Database is able to turn its wealth of data on mobile plans and prices into actionable and meaningful intelligence through its large array of features and easy-to-use tools.

Third, the database enables users to draw insights from mobile plans around the world. Subscribers can easily view pricing and promotional strategies of innovative new plans and services and compare these across markets. Users can quickly select the specific plans or data needed to rapidly create customized benchmark reports, download this information to Excel and manipulate it as needed, including having the luxury to perform any number of “What if” analyses.



The Tarifica Mobile Database features:

¨ Every plan, rate, bundle, feature and service from hundreds of mobile operators
¨ Easy searching and querying
¨ Ability to graph results and/or download to Excel
¨ Coverage of included devices and prices


Database Example:

Data Sourcing

Tarifica is a research, consulting and data analytics firm that has served mobile and fixed line operators, regulators and consultants for four decades. Throughout this time, our focus has been on tracking the evolution of the market including competitive strategies and potentially disruptive factors in global plans, offers and rates.

Tarifica employs a team of researchers who are constantly reviewing mobile operators' websites, telecom news articles and press releases, and discussing plans with sales representatives. Ultimately, they standardize this information and enter it into the Tarifica Mobile Database. Before new entries are accepted, all of the data must pass a thorough review from a senior researcher to ensure that it is up-to-date, accurate and clearly presented.

Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance. To learn more about Tarifica, please visit www.tarifica.com

SoftBank, Foxconn Mull Joint Venture for Device Manufacturing in India

Japan-based SoftBank (which owns Sprint, among other mobile and fixed network operators) and Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group (which manufactures Apple’s iPhone) are in talks to form a joint venture in India to manufacture electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets. The venture would be led by Foxconn and supported by SoftBank, according to remarks made on Monday by SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. “We will like to support Make in India programme and vision,” said Son, referring to a campaign for domestic manufacture championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We are discussing with Foxconn about how we can support Make in India programme jointly where Foxconn will lead and SoftBank will support.” He added, “The details of this is still work in progress. That announcement will be made sometime in near future.”     With India’s mobile telecom sector booming and data use growing exponentially, there is now a vigorous market for smartphones in the country. Affordability, however, has been a stumbling block for many potential users—as well as for manufacturers of high-end phones, such as Apple. The 16 GB version of the iPhone 6 currently costs the equivalent of approximately US $690.00 in India. If the phones were to be made domestically, the cost would most likely go down dramatically. India could also be a place to produce iPhones for export, which would benefit Foxconn in light of the fact that wages in China, now its main manufacturing center, are rising.   SoftBank’s presence in the joint venture is significant because of the Japanese company’s role as a mobile service provider. Return on investment in mobile networks is not possible unless the appropriate devices are available and affordable. Putting more smartphones into the hands of users all over the world, especially in developing economies, is essential to the future growth of the subscriber base for data services, which will continue to be the key to mobile revenues worldwide. It should also be noted that this potential device manufacturing partnership is being discussed against the backdrop of an actual partnership announced on Monday between SoftBank, Foxconn and Bharti Enterprises, which will invest US $20 billion over 10 years for the development in solar power in India. Presumably the energy generated through this project will help power the country’s mobile networks and devices as they grow.

Tarifica is the global leader in monitoring and analyzing telecom pricing. Covering hundreds of operators in every region of the globe, Tarifica’s databases of mobile and fixed line data and voice tariffs are among the largest and most in-depth in the world. Tarifica is also a leading publisher of benchmark and other pricing reports, and its analysts are recognized authorities in the telecom industry, relied upon by operators and businesses worldwide for pricing insight and guidance. Click here to contact a Tarifica Analyst.

Dish Said to Be in Financing Talks for T-Mobile US

U.S. satellite TV provider Dish Network is in talks with banks about funding a bid for T-Mobile US, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Dish is considering borrowing US $10–15 billion for the cash portion of a bid that would primarily be composed of its stock, according to people familiar with the matter. The two sides are discussing a deal that would leave Deutsche Telekom, which controls T-Mobile, with a large minority stake in a combined company. A deal between Dish and T-Mobile is not considered imminent, and it is possible that an agreement will not be reached, according to the sources. It is unclear how much Dish is considering paying for T-Mobile, which has a market value of US $31 billion and is the fourth-largest mobile carrier in the U.S. Dish, the country’s second-largest satellite TV provider, has a market value of US $34 billion.

Deutsche Telekom has been looking to divest itself wholly or partly from T-Mobile US for a while now, without success. In January, Deutsche Telekom CEO Timotheus Hoettges said that T-Mobile has no chance of catching up with market leaders Verizon Wireless and AT&T, and that its “Uncarrier” approach of relying on aggressive promotions is not sustainable in the long term. Deutsche Telekom, which owns two thirds of T-Mobile, has had to inject US $4–5 billion a year into T-Mobile to keep it going, and while the U.S. operator has been constantly increasing its number of subscribers, it has also consistently lost money. While Hoettges expressed a desire for T-Mobile to merge with third-place U.S. operator Sprint (majority-owned by Japan-based Softbank), it is clear to him and to most observers that U.S. regulators, who wish to keep the market at four major MNOs, would never approve such a deal. So reducing Deutsche Telekom’s ownership of T-Mobile by doing a deal with a non-MNO entity such as a satellite provider is a good alternative strategy, and Dish is a good prospective partner. Dish founder and CEO Charlie Ergen has been expressing interest in T-Mobile for almost a year, after having lost out to Softbank for control of Sprint. A merger could be a boon for Dish, which could enter the mobile market and offer multiple-play packages, and for Deutsche Telekom, which could reduce the financial burden induced by T-Mobile US. T-Mobile’s network would benefit from adding the mobile spectrum that Dish has been buying up. However, the two companies are reportedly only the in the discussion phase, and there are many reasons, from the financial to the personal, why it might not take place at all.

The above item appeared in a recent issue of The Tarifica Alert, a weekly resource that analyzes noteworthy developments in the telecoms industry from around the world. Contact Tarifica for a subscription to the Tarifica Alert. 
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