Global ARPU: the pressure is on

Most of the major operators have now reported their Q4 2005 figures. This report reviews how ARPUs have changed over the latter part of 2005 and where these changes are most significant. After global ARPU rallied in Q3, it has once again returned to its downward trend. However, the 8% year-on-year decline in Q4 is the smallest over the last four years. Two elements are evident in this decline: connections growth in emerging markets continues to weight ARPU towards lower spending users, whilst pressure on ARPU continues in Western Europe, which reported its fourth successive and most severe quarterly decline to date.