Dutch virtual operators grow market share to 35.9%

The number of Dutch mobile customers using a virtual operator rose 2.1 percent over the six months to March 2012 to a total 7.5 million, equal to 35.9 percent of the Dutch mobile market. Of the total, 57.7 percent or 4.3 million customers used virtual brands (co-)owned by the mobile network operators. Independent MVNOs counted 3.2 million customers or 15.2 percent of the total Dutch mobile market, up from 14.5 percent in Q3 2011, according to a report from Telecompaper. 

The number of active mobile virtual operators in the Netherlands increased to 67 at the end of Q1 this year, with three new entrants, three exits and the addition of four new companies compared to the market's researchers last report in Q3 2011. New additions included PostNL Mobiel and two new ethnic-focused brands, NLD Mobiel and Delight Mobile, while Citytel Prepaid and Norea Mobile exited the market, and Ecofoon was acquired by SpeakUp. Since April 2012, Yiggers Mobile, Mobilized06, Stunt Mobiel and Hyves Mobiel have also left the market, and MVNE 6GMobile filed for bankruptcy. In addition, two new MVNO brands were launched, Bliep and Delta Mobiel, and Voiceworks announced a start to services in September 2012. 

Hi and Telfort, although losing customers, were the leaders of the operator-owned brands and total VO market.  Lebara and Lycamobile remained the leaders of the independent MVNO brands. In terms of network operator usage, KPN carries the most MVNOs, although it has lost some market share. Both Vodafone and T-Mobile increased market share, with T-Mobile growing the most due to customer growth at Tele2, Simpel and Ben.