Around 50 MVNOs operate in the Dutch market, four more than six months ago. Several players entered the market (for example Easer Mobile, Tok Toe Mie, Youfone and Internet Overal), and several others ended their VO operations. A number of newcomers have recently launched services or announced launch plans for early 2009, such as Blyk and Telesur. The MVNO market continued its steady rise in the overall mobile market. By September 2008 around 17.3 percent of all SIMs were activated by virtual operators, versus 17.0 percent as of September 2007 and 15.3 percent in September 2006. Debitel, Lycamobile, Tele2, Ortel and Lebara dominate the Dutch MVNO market with a combined market share of more than 70 percent. Lycamobile is without a doubt the fastest growing MVNO, but Vectone, Simpel and Rabomobiel also showed strong growth compared to 12 months ago. One of the most important developments in the MVNO market was KPN's majority acquisition of Ortel Mobile, apparently for a lack of success of its home grown ethnic Ay Yildiz brand. Also, the Dutch arm of debitel was taken over by both KPN and Vodafone, and the brand is set to disappear from the Dutch market within 2.5 years. Looking at the mobile network operators, KPN leads the market by servicing 71 percent of all MVNO subscribers, while Vodafone has said to increase its share.
The report "Dutch Mobile Virtual Operators - Market overview third quarter 2008" provides a detailed analysis of the MVNO market, including for the first time also profiles of the MVNE players. It looks at the target markets, propositions and performance in the MVNO market. The report focuses on the mobile VOs with activities in the Dutch market and outlines the most important business issues and strengths and weaknesses per operator.
