Subscriber
numbers
The number of active mobile subscriptions in the UK (usually defined
as those which have been used in the previous 90 days) is now in excess of
70 million. Source: Ofcom Communications
Market reports
Mobile data
The Mobile Data Association collate the statistics for the number of text messages sent each month in the UK. In 2007 56.9 billion text messages were sent in the UK.
Value to economy
The mobile industry in the UK has
been an enormous success story and is now a very significant sector. Operators
in the UK directly employ 37,000 staff . Turnover for mobile
communications services is £13.1 billion per annum . Investment in fixed
capital equipment is in the order of £2.3 billion per annum. An analysis
conducted in 2004 by CEBR on behalf of O2 calculated that the mobile industry
accounted for 2.3% of GDP . Only the Construction and Hotel/Restaurant sectors
are larger in the UK economy. (Download
the full report)
The UK operations of the five network operators remit approximately £800
million to the Treasury, in terms of corporation tax, employers national insurance
and VAT each year. £55 million is paid to the Treasury in annual spectrum
fees. This is in addition to the £22bn paid for 3G spectrum in 2000,
which saves the Government around £900 million per annum in debt interest,
making a total direct contribution to the public purse of £1.75 billion
per annum.
As well as the direct contribution, mobility and other mobile services have
contributed considerably to productivity improvements in other sectors of
the economy: more efficient use of mobile work forces and vehicle fleets,
faster and more immediate communication for managers and executives working
on time critical projects, construction, journalism, sales and many many others.
The contribution is not just economic. Mobile operators handle over 15 million
999 calls per annum (40,000 per day), many of which involve life threatening
situations. Location services are used extensively in the utilities, NHS and
social services to keep an eye on carers working alone in high-risk environments.
Text messaging is used by Government; for example to contact tourists after
the Asian Tsunami, helping the FCO to cope with a terrible situation.
