Belgain mobile operators generated service revenues of EUR 908 million in the second quarter, down 4.4 percent from a year earlier, but up 4.2 percent from the first quarter of 2011, according to a report from Telecompaper. Annual growth in non-voice (SMS and data) services was not enough to compensate for the fall in voice revenues due to cuts in termination and roaming rates. All three operators - Proximus, Base and Mobistar - showed a 4-5 percent annual drop in service revenues, but all grew on a sequential basis, led by Base. Seasonally the second quarter is usually better than the first. The number of lines on the Belgian mobile market grew 4.2 percent year-on-year to 13.0 million at the end of June. Market penetration grew to 119 percent from 115. Market shares were largely stable, with Proximus in the lead with 39 percent of lines, followed by Mobistar with 31 percent. Base strengthened its position to 30 percent. Telecompaper expects the Belgain mobile market to show a small contraction this year to around EUR 3.6 billion in annual revenues.
