Mobile termination rates are on everyone's mind
Isabelle Paradis
May 2007
More info in our European mobile termination rate report >>

Fixed to mobile termination rates have been at the center of many controversies in the last few years and the road to more equitable rates has proven very strenuous to say the least. Mobile operators are coming to terms with the fact that fixed to mobile termination rate reductions are inevitable in the long run and that revenue have and will be strongly affected.

Countries in Eastern and Western Europe enjoy by far the world's highest fixed to mobile termination rates and pressure has been increasing from countries such as the US to reduce rates to levels found in the fixed to fixed or mobile to fixed realm.

Three of the top five European countries charging the highest fixed to mobile termination rates come from Eastern Europe . Bulgaria leads the way with the highest average fixed to mobile termination rate in the region, standing at US$0.244/minute in February 2007. Estonia and Slovenia follow with US$0.215 and US$0.209 respectively. In fourth position, Switzerland benefits from Western Europe's highest rate with an average of US$0.168, followed by Greece with US$0.157

Surprisingly, Cyprus ' mobile operators charge by far the lowest fixed to mobile termination rate in the region at US$0.03/minute.

Constant pressures from regulators and governments are however steadily bringing rates down to ultimately ensure their proximity to cost. Most countries in the region are planning additional decreases in 2007 and 2008 but some operators, such as the ones in Sweden , are still fighting court battles to impede the trend.

Find out more in HOT TELECOM's European fixed to mobile termination rate report>>>