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Enders Analysis provides a subscription research service covering the media, entertainment, mobile and fixed telecommunications industries in Europe, with a special focus on new technologies and media.

Our research is independent and evidence-based, covering all sides of the market: consumers, leading companies, industry trends, forecasts and public policy & regulation. A complete list of our research can be found here.

 

Rigorous Fearless Independent

The CMA's provisional findings on the Vodafone/Three merger reiterate its concerns around the impact on the retail and wholesale market but its previous issues regarding mobile towers sharing with BT/EE have been satisfied 

Crucially, the CMA seems somewhat dismissive of structural remedies, although hasn't ruled them out entirely. Remedies sought in the form of network and pricing commitments seem somewhat unnecessary, but nonetheless workable 

We now expect the Vodafone Three merger to gain approval in December, with remedy detail negotiated over the coming months—a very significant positive development for the sector 

Jamie MacEwan, senior research analyst at Enders Analysis, told Business Insider that despite the "eye-catching" Mate XT targeting a "fairly small niche at the very top of the price range," it's a sign of "the return in force of Huawei." "The next flagship Mate refresh will have a bigger market impact," MacEwan added. "What will be difficult for Apple in China is countering Huawei's momentum and convincing loyal Apple users to upgrade while China's economy is still struggling with lower growth," MacEwan said.

Service revenue growth dropped off by 2.7ppts this quarter, and into negative territory, as operators in all markets suffered weaker growth
 

Operators in France and the UK implemented price increases this quarter but re-contracting absorbed any positive revenue impact. In Italy, regulatory intervention thwarted operator plans to raise prices
 

Increasing competitive intensity in France and Germany comes at a time when operators can ill-afford ARPU dilution and high churn
 

"This gives the impression that DAZN is adjusting a little to the price expected by the French market," reacts analyst François Godard, from the Enders Analysis firm. This may only be the beginning. "If DAZN launches a promotion like this at the beginning of September, we can expect there to be others. To me, it looks like a price drop," considers the expert. In neighboring countries, such as Germany and Italy, DAZN applies a "relatively high" pricing strategy, he recalls, but "the story is not the same." In Italy, for example, the annual subscription costs 359 euros per year, or 29.92 euros per month. But DAZN, which has been broadcasting all Serie A matches there since 2022, was launched in 2018 with lower prices, which have increased as the offer has expanded.