Internet Reaches 40% of Global Population

The ITU reported that Internet use rose 6.6% globally in 2014 (3.3% in developed countries, 8.7% in the developing world). The number of Internet users in developing countries has doubled in five years (2009-2014), with two thirds of all people online now living in the developing world, according to the UN agency. Source: ITU's Measuring the Information Society Report

Mobile Data Traffic Grows 60% Year-on-Year

source: Ericsson Mobility Report

Telefónica Stokes Up Latin American Growth Engine

Telefónica reported organic revenue growth in the third quarter of 2.8% year-on-year ( up from 1.3% in the second quarter). Group revenues in the quarter were 13.02 billion euros. Although revenues fell 6.6% in Spain, 2.3% in the UK and 0.5% in Germany, they climbed 1.1% in Brazil and 14.1% in the rest of Latin America.

Telefónica said capital spending in the year to September reached 5.74 billion euros, up 26% year-on-year in organic terms, "as a result of the focus on technological transformation and network modernisation and higher investment associated with customer base growth." 

The Madrid-based telco also said its consumer video business generated 717 million euros in revenue in the first nine months of 2014, following organic growth of 24% in the third quarter, up from 15% in the first half of 2014 (see graphic). source: Telefónica statement

Vodafone Sees Stabilisation Ahead in Europe

Vodafone reported a 3% year-on-year fall in revenues, on an organic basis, in the six months ending September 30th to 20.75 billion British pounds (32.96 billion US dollars). In the quarter ending September 30th, service revenues fell in most of its European operations on an organic basis, but rose by double digits in Ghana, India and Turkey, excluding the impact of regulated cuts to mobile termination rates.

Vittorio Colao, group CEO, said: “There is growing evidence of stabilisation in a number of our European markets, supported by improvements in our commercial execution and very strong demand for data. ... Customers are showing an increasing propensity to trade up to bigger data allowances as a result  of the 4G experience. In India, growth has accelerated, stimulated by investment in our 3G network....Today in Europe, only 6% of our customers are using 4G. In the next 18 months, we will reach 90% 4G coverage in Europe, giving us a great opportunity to increase penetration, stimulate  data usage and grow customer spend.” source: Vodafone statement

Deutsche Telekom Buys Anaemic Growth

Deutsche Telekom said its revenue rose by 2% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in the first nine months of 2014. In the third quarter, reported revenue rose by 0.8% (the company didn't provide an organic figure). In Germany, revenue fell by 1.5% to 5.59 billion euros as a result of declines in fixed-line and wholesale revenues, while revenue in the rest of Europe fell 3.6%.

In the U.S., revenues rose 8.8% to 7.36 billion US dollars, driven by stronger customer growth. However, the company's aggressive pricing led to a fall in profitability (see slide). source: Deutsche Telekom presentation