The role of the Mobile Broadband Group, whose members are the network operators in the UK – O2, Vodafone, Three and Everything Everywhere, who operate under the Orange and T-Mobile brands in the UK, is to work with consumers, Government, and Regulators to bring about an optimal regulatory environment across a range of issues.
Since the first mobile networks were launched in the UK in 1985, the capability of the mobile phone technology has progressed dramatically.
In those early days, it was only possible to make simple telephone calls; you could not even leave a voicemail message. A handset cost about £2,000 and it was expected that only about 250,000 people would ever own a mobile phone in the UK.
Today, there are over 80 million active mobile subscriptions in the UK, with approximately 1.25 subscriptions per head of population (Ofcom CMR 2010). 26% of customers now use smartphones. Uptake of mobile broadband is now at 15% of households.
In Q4 2010, for the first time, smartphones surpassed PCs in terms of number of worldwide units shipped in a quarter - over 100 million as against 92 million PCs (source IDC).
A number of commentators are now forecasting that mobile broadband connections will outstrip fixed connections in the next few years.
In research published August 2010, for example, Ovum predicted that by the end of 2015 mobile broadband will outstrip fixed networks by more than three times. There will be approximately 3.2 billion mobile broadband subscriptions worldwide, compared to just 785 million fixed broadband subscriptions at the same point in time, the research stated.
Mobile phones and other mobile devices are now used for an enormous, and increasing, variety of purposes.
As mobile technology’s reach extends into new spheres, more and more regulation can apply to the activities of the mobile network operators. Quite often such regulation can have contradictory objectives or unintended consequences. Complex and ill-thought out regulation adds considerably to running costs – costs which are ultimately borne by customers.
Successful regulation protects consumers from harm but also promotes their interests by providing a backdrop in which competition, investment and innovation can thrive.
The objective of the Mobile Broadband Group (MBG) is to promote the benefits of the mobile communications sector to both consumers and the economy and to bring about an optimal regulatory environment by jointly developing positions on a range of regulatory and governmental issues and communicating those positions effectively to Government, regulators and other interested parties.
Subject to the agreement of all members, the MBG can cover the whole range of public policy issues and has the capacity to create and administer self-regulatory initiatives on behalf of the members.
The membership of the MBG is open to network operators that are committed to the construction and competitive development of cellular mobile networks in the UK and the deployment of 3G services.
Current members of the MBG are Vodafone, Three, O2 and Everything Everywhere (which operates the Orange and T-Mobile brands in the UK)
All policy positions are, and will continue to be, adopted by unanimous agreement.
The cost of membership will be agreed from time to time between the members. The members’ liability shall be limited to this amount unless agreed otherwise in writing. Any additional costs to be incurred will be agreed in writing in advance by all the members.
The affairs of the MBG are controlled by the Steering Committee, consisting of one representative from each member.
Exclusions
For the avoidance of doubt the members will not discuss or share any commercially confidential information about their businesses (examples of which are described in Annexe 1)
Examples of confidential information that will not be discussed or shared by the members of the Mobile Broadband Group
Pricing, e.g. wholesale pricing, timing of price changes and other aspects of pricing policies;
Traffic volumes and subscriber numbers and other sales information;
Customer details;
Company strategy (e.g. details of products and services to be launched or of timing of such launch;
Planned advertising campaigns or other marketing strategies;
Costs or details of investment plans.
Any other information which could directly or indirectly result in the adoption of a co-ordinated approach to suppliers, distributors and customers.
