Acm.nl uses cookies to analyze how the website is used, and to improve the user experience. Read more about cookies

ACM Telecom Monitor for Q2 2023: mobile-data consumption and fiber-optic grow substantially, consumers seldom switch

The latest telecom monitor (in Dutch) by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) reveals that, in the second quarter of 2023, mobile-data consumption in the Netherlands has increased by 20%, which is a substantial increase. Moreover, the number of fiber-optic connections in the Netherlands continues to go up. Additional consumer research has also revealed that Dutch consumers are satisfied with their mobile and broadband plans, and that they seldom switch providers.

Compared with previous quarters in 2022 and 2023, the second quarter of 2023 has seen the highest quarterly consumption in a long time with 514 million gigabyte (an increase of 88 million gigabyte). A significant increase has also been observed in the number of machine-to-machine (M2M) sim cards. In the past quarter, we saw a substantial and accelerated growth of over 1 million cards, which are used, for example, in smart devices and cars to share information with the supplier’s systems.

Conversely, the number of voice minutes in the Netherlands over fixed and mobile networks once again went down slightly. In the second quarter, these numbers were 9.70 billion minutes over mobile networks and 1.22 billion minutes over fixed networks. The number of fixed connections that are used to make calls decreased by 3.2%.

The number of plans with a combination of mobile and fixed services (telephony, television, and broadband) was 3.44 million, which is an increase of 2.3% compared with the previous quarter. There were 2.81 million bundles with two fixed services (+2%) and 980,000 bundles with three fixed services, which is a decrease of almost 7.3% compared with the previous quarter. Another striking trend is that the total number of television plans is decreasing.

Share of fiber-optic continues to grow

The data show that fiber-optic continues to grow considerably. In the second quarter of 2023, 440,000 new fiber-optic connections were rolled out, amounting to a total of 6.37 million. The number of households with a broadband plan over fiber-optic rose to 2.60 million, an increase of 100,000 compared with the previous quarter. Not only do Dutch consumers have broadband over fiber-optic more and more often, but more and more people also watch television over such connections (1.83 million connections, +2,5%), while the number of households that watch television over cable or copper is declining.

By now, over 75% of Dutch subscribers have access to download speeds of 100 Mbps or higher. Still, the roll-out of fiber-optic is lagging behind in certain areas in the Netherlands. Availability of fiber-optic, particularly in big parts of three Dutch provinces (Noord-Holland, Limburg, and Groningen), is lower than in other parts of the country.

The good news is that a rising number of Dutch consumers are able to take advantage of the opportunities that fiber-optic offers. High-quality connections are of major importance for consumers and businesses, now that our society is digitalizing rapidly. In the meantime, ACM continues to emphasize that all market participants must act carefully when rolling-out fiber-optic.

Dutch consumers seldom switch providers

Furthermore, additional consumer research by ACM shows that a vast majority of Dutch consumers (79%) are of the opinion that there are enough providers on the mobile market to choose from. Yet apprarently, they hardly take advantage of the switching opportunities. Moreover, 43% says that it does not seem necessary to switch every two years in order to prevent them from paying too much for their plans. One notable finding is that 67% of respondents say that fixed costs play a major role in their choice for a plan. Furthermore, the number of consumers that say they base their choice predominantly on costs has increased (9%) compared with 2022. One explanation for Dutch consumers sticking with their providers seems to be that, to a large degree, they are satisfied with their providers (59%).

The number of consumers that did not switch providers increased in 2023. Although a majority of Dutch consumers stays with a single mobile provider for less than five years, the number of Dutch consumers that have the same provider for eleven years or longer has gone up for the first time in a long time.

In the Netherlands, consumers pay, on average, 18.20 euros per month for mobile plans, compared with 16.80 euros in 2022. Although 59% of consumers say they do not know how much they could save by switching providers, they do say that an average monthly saving of 7 euros or more could be a reason for switching providers.

With regard to broadband over fixed connections, too, consumers seldom switch providers. In 2022, 20% did take out a different broadband plan, but only 12% switched providers as well. With regard to broadband, too, consumers are, generally speaking, satisfied with their internet providers, and they say that, if they do switch, price is the most important reason for doing so. With regard to broadband, consumers say that a monthly saving of 18 euros or more will make a switch worthwhile.

See also: