Greece - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Greece's telecom market is susceptible to the country's volatile economy, and as a result revenue among the key operators has been variable. The incumbent telco OTE, supported by the organisational and financial clout of its parent Deutsche Telekom, reported a 16.6% fall in revenue for 2020, and the economic fallout of the pandemic continued to reduce revenue into 2021.

Broadband penetration in Greece is developing steadily despite the difficult economic conditions. The main operators are concentrating investment on fibre-based next generation networks, enabling them to reach the European broadband targets for 2025. Their work is also supported by government ultra-fast broadband projects, largely funded by the EC and aimed at delivering a service of at least 100Mb/s to underserved areas.

Greece's well-developed mobile market is dominated by the three MNOs Wind Hellas, Vodafone Greece, and Cosmote. Operators continue to invest in LTE infrastructure and technologies to provide networks capable of meeting customer demand for data services. After extensive trials of 5G, the MNOs were able to launch commercial services in early 2021 following the December 2020 auction of spectrum in a range of bands. The rapid rollout of 5G encouraged Cosmote to close down its 3G network (a process expected to be completed by the end of 2021) and refarm spectrum for LTE and 5G.

This report introduces the key aspects of the Greek fixed-line telecoms, wholesale and IT market, outlining the regulatory environment, assessing the major players and providing relevant operational data and financial statistics on both the operators and the market. The report also covers the fixed-line broadband segment, as also the mobile voice and data markets, covering regulatory and sector developments as well as reviews of the key players.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments

Regulator consults on renewing a provider of universal services;

Cosmote selects Ericsson as its sole 5G RAN vendor, reaches 50% population coverage with 5G, plans to close down its 3G infrastructure by December 2021;

Regulator completes multi-spectrum auction for 5G;

Forthnet rebrands as Nova;

EC approves €223 million for Greece's Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFBB) project;

Vodafone planning to repurpose 3G network assets for LTE and 5G by 2022;

Report update includes the regulator's market review and annual report for 2019, market data to June 2020, telcos' operating and financial data to Q1 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market development.

Companies mentioned in this report

Vodafone Greece, OTE (Cosmote), Wind Hellas, Nova (Forthnet), Wind Hellas, On Telecoms, Tellas, On Telecoms.

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Background
Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments
- Telecom sector liberalisation
- Privatisation
- Interconnection
- Access
- Number Portability (NP)
- Carrier selection and carrier preselection
- Universal Service Obligation (USO)
- European Electronic Communications Code
Mobile network developments
- Significant Market Power (SMP)
- Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Spectrum refarming
- 900MHz and 1800MHz licence renewal
- 1800MHz
- 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum auction
- 3.4GHz
- 5G spectrum auction - 2020
- Network sharing

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G (LTE)
- 3G
- GSM
- Other infrastructure developments
Mobile data
- Short Messaging Service (SMS)/Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators
- Wind Hellas
- Vodafone Greece
- Cosmote
- Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
Mobile content and applications

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
- Government support
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
- VDSL
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services
- Fixed wireless (Wi-Fi and WiMAX)

Digital economy

E-government
Infrastructure

Fixed network operators

Overview
OTE
Wind Hellas
Nova (Forthnet)
Vodafone Greece
Cyta Hellas

Telecommunications infrastructure

National telecom network
- OTE
- NGA
- Alternative operators
- Satellite networks
- Submarine cables
Smart infrastructure

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Greece - 2021 (e)
Table 2 - Licensed telcos by service - 2017; 2029
Table 3 - Decline in retail revenue from fixed-telephony and internet services - 2011 - 2020
Table 4 - Retail revenue from fixed-telephony services - 2014 - 2020
Table 5 - Development of telecom revenue by provider (€ billion) - 2011 - 2019
Table 6 - Development of telecom sector investment - 2011 - 2020
Table 7 - Fixed-line interconnection rates by operator (€ cents per minute) - 2011 - 2019
Table 8 - Change in fixed-line interconnection traffic by operator (billion minutes) - 2010 - 2019
Table 9 - Development in the number of LLU and shared access lines - 2011 - 2020
Table 10 - Change in the number of Cosmote's LLU lines - 2011 - 2020
Table 11 - Change in the number of annual fixed number portings - 2009 - 2019
Table 12 - Change in the number of CpS and WLR lines - 2016 - 2020
Table 13 - Reduction in Mobile Termination Rates - 2009 - 2019
Table 14 - Mobile interconnection traffic by type (billion minutes) - 2009 - 2020
Table 15 - Change in the number of annual mobile number portings - 2009 - 2019
Table 16 - Change in the number of registered mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2020
Table 17 - Growth in the number of active mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 18 - Change in mobile voice traffic - 2009 - 2020
Table 19 - Decline in average annual mobile ARPU (€/month) - 2011 - 2019
Table 20 - Change in mobile market share of registered subscribers - 2011 - 2019
Table 21 - Decline in mobile service retail revenue and annual change - 2009 - 2020
Table 22 - Proportion of mobile revenue by service - 2015 - 2019
Table 23 - Change in the number or registered prepaid and postpaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Table 24 - Change in the ratio of registered prepaid/postpaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Table 25 - Change in the number and proportion of Cosmote's prepaid subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 26 - Change in the proportion of Vodafone Greece's prepaid subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 27 - Growth in the number of M2M connections - 2016 - 2020
Table 28 - Change in the volume of SMS and MMS message sent - 2011 - 2020
Table 29 - Change in the proportion of mobile data traffic by network type - 2015 - 2019
Table 30 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 31 - Growth in mobile data traffic (billion MB) - 2009 - 2020
Table 32 - Change in the number of Vodafone Greece's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 33 - Decline in Vodafone Greece's mobile ARPU (€ / month) - 2011 - 2021
Table 34 - Development of Vodafone Greece's mobile financial data (€ million) - 2016 - 2021
Table 35 - Increase in Vodafone Greece's mobile data traffic - 2014 - 2021
Table 36 - Decline in Cosmote' mobile financial data (€ million) - 2011 - 2021
Table 37 - Change in Cosmote's annualised mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2020
Table 38 - Change in the number of Cosmote's mobile subscribers by type (million) - 2011 - 2021
Table 39 - Change in the number of broadband lines by speed - 2017 - 2020
Table 40 - Change in the market share of broadband lines by speed - 2012 - 2020
Table 41 - Change in the number of DSL lines by platform/provider - 2012 - 2019
Table 42 - Development in the market share of broadband subscribers by platform/provider - 2011 - 2019
Table 43 - Development in the market share of broadband subscribers: OTE and altnets - 2012 - 2020
Table 44 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 45 - Growth in fixed broadband revenue - 2014 - 2020
Table 46 - Increase in the number of Cosmote's retail DSL subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 47 - Change in the number of Nova's broadband and LLU subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 48 - Change in the number of Vodafone's retail DSL subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Table 49 - Growth in the number of Cosmote's fibre/VDSL subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Table 50 - VDSL as proportion of all fixed broadband connections - 2013 - 2019
Table 51 - Growth in the number of Cosmote's VDSL/fibre broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Table 52 - Growth in the number of FttP connections - 2017 - 2020
Table 53 - OTE share of fixed-line call traffic - 2011 - 2019
Table 54 - Decline in fixed-line voice traffic - 2010 - 2020
Table 55 - Development of Cosmote Group's financial data (€ billion) - 2011 - 2021
Table 56 - Change in the number of Cosmote's fixed subscribers (thousand) - 2009 - 2021
Table 57 - Development of Cosmote's financial data by sector (€ million) - 2013 - 2021
Table 58 - Development of Forthnet Group's financial data (€ million) - 2011 - 2020
Table 59 - Forthnet Company financial data (€ million) - 2009 - 2020
Table 60 - Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type - 2011 - 2019
Table 61 - Change in the number of fixed lines in service: OTE and altnets (million) - 2011 - 2019
Table 62 - Change in the share of fixed lines by OTE and altnets - 2009 - 2019
Table 63 - Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type - 2016 - 2020
Table 64 - Change in the number of fixed lines and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
Table 65 - Decline in outgoing fixed-line traffic: OTE and altnets - 2010 - 2019
Table 66 - PSTN lines in service - 2011 - 2019
Table 67 - OTE market share of fixed-lines in service - 2011 - 2019
Table 68 - Development of Next Generation Access household access penetration - 2011 - 2019
Table 69 - Historic - Mobile subscribers (registered) and penetration - 1996 - 2010
Table 70 - Historic - Active mobile subscribers and penetration - 2003 - 2010
Table 71 - Historic - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2004 - 2010
Table 72 - Historic - Mobile market share of registered subscribers by operator - 2005 - 2010
Table 73 - Historic - Mobile and fixed-line traffic (billion minutes) - 2004 - 2010
Table 74 - Historic - Mobile service retail revenue and annual change - 2003 - 2010
Table 75 - Historic - annual mobile number portings - 2004 - 2010
Table 76 - Historic - Mobile revenue (retail and wholesale) (€ million) - 2010 - 2016
Table 77 - Historic - Mobile service EBITDA and annual change - 2003 - 2014
Table 78 - Historic - Mobile service capex - 2001 - 2014
Table 79 - Historic - Vodafone SMS messages sent - 2014 - 2016
Table 80 - Historic - Cosmote prepaid subscribers - 2005 - 2010
Table 81 - Historic - Vodafone Greece's proportion of prepaid subscribers - 2005 - 2010
Table 82 - Historic - Cosmote mobile data revenue - 2015 - 2017
Table 83 - Historic - Cosmote mobile subscribers - 2006 - 2010
Table 84 - Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2003 - 2010
Table 85 - Historic - Internet users and penetration - 1999 - 2014
Table 86 - Historic - OTE and altnet fixed lines in service (million) - 2005 - 2010
Table 87 - Historic - Cosmote Group operating and net income (€ million) - 2006 - 2014
Table 88 - Historic - Licensed telcos' financial performance (regulator data) (€ billion) - 2000 - 2016
Table 89 - Historic - Telecom sector investments - 2004 - 2010
Table 90 - Historic - Fixed lines in service by type (thousand) - 2000 - 2010
Table 91 - Historic - Fixed-lines and teledensity - 2005 - 2010
Table 92 - Historic - Annual fixed number portings - 2004 - 2010
Table 93 - Historic - Retail revenue from fixed-telephony and internet services - 2005 - 2010
Table 94 - Historic - Telecom revenue by provider (€ billion) - 2004 - 2010
Table 95 - Historic - CPS lines - 2004 - 2013
Table 96 - Historic - WLR lines - 2009 - 2013
Table 97 - Historic - Fixed-line traffic - 2004 - 2010
Table 98 - Historic - Growth in the average DSL connection data rate - 2008 - 2017
Table 99 - Historic - Development in the number of LLU and shared access lines - 2007 - 2010
Table 100 - Historic - Change in the number of Cosmote's LLU lines - 2006 - 2010
Table 101 - Historic - Change in the volume of SMS and MMS message sent - 2006 - 2010
Table 102 - Historic - Change in the number of Vodafone Greece's mobile subscribers - 2008 - 2010
Table 103 - Historic - Decline in Vodafone Greece's mobile ARPU - 2008 - 2010
Table 104 - Historic - Development of Vodafone Greece's financial data (£ million) - 2008 - 2016
Table 105 - Historic - Decline in Cosmote' mobile financial data (€ million) - 2007 - 2010
Table 106 - Historic - Change in Cosmote's annualised mobile ARPU - 2006 - 2010
Table 107 - Historic - Development in the market share of broadband subscribers by platform/provider - 2007 - 2010
Table 108 - Historic - Increase in the number of Cosmote's retail DSL subscribers - 2007 - 2010
Table 109 - Historic - Change in the number of Forthnet's broadband and LLU subscribers - 2007 - 2010
Table 110 - Historic - OTE share of fixed-line call traffic - 2005 - 2010
Table 111 - Historic - Development of Cosmote Group's financial data (€ billion) - 2006 - 2010
Table 112 - Historic - Development of Forthnet Group's financial data (€ million) - 2007 - 2010
Table 113 - Historic - PSTN lines in service - 2005 - 2010

List of Charts

Chart 1 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Leaders (top tier)
Chart 2 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers (middle tier)
Chart 3 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents (bottom tier)
Chart 4 - Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 5 - Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 - Scandinavia and Baltics - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 - Northern Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 - Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 - Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 - Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 11 - Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 12 - Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 13 - Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 14 - Decline in in retail revenue from fixed-telephony and internet services - 2011 - 2020
Chart 15 - Development of telecom revenue by provider - 2011 - 2019
Chart 16 - Development of telecom sector investment - 2011 - 2020
Chart 17 - Change in fixed-line interconnection traffic by operator - 2010 - 2019
Chart 18 - Change in the number of Cosmote's LLU lines - 2011 - 2020
Chart 19 - Change in the number of annual fixed number portings - 2009 - 2019
Chart 20 - Change in the number of CpS and WLR lines - 2016 - 2020
Chart 21 - Reduction in Mobile Termination Rates - 2009 - 2019
Chart 22 - Change in the number of annual mobile number portings - 2009 - 2019
Chart 23 - Change in the number of registered mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2020
Chart 24 - Growth in the number of active mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 25 - Change in mobile voice traffic - 2009 - 2020
Chart 26 - Decline in average annual mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2019
Chart 27 - Change in mobile market share of registered subscribers - 2011 - 2019
Chart 28 - Decline in mobile service retail revenue and annual change - 2009 - 2020
Chart 29 - Change in the number or registered prepaid and postpaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Chart 30 - Change in the number or registered prepaid/postpaid subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Chart 31 - Change in the number and proportion of Cosmote's prepaid subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 32 - Change in the volume of SMS and MMS message sent - 2011 - 2020
Chart 33 - Change in the proportion of mobile data traffic by network type - 2015 - 2019
Chart 34 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 35 - Growth in mobile data traffic - 2009 - 2020
Chart 36 - Change in the number of Vodafone Greece's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 37 - Decline in Vodafone Greece's mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2021
Chart 38 - Development of Vodafone Greece's mobile financial data - 2016 - 2021
Chart 39 - Increase in Vodafone Greece's mobile data traffic - 2014 - 2021
Chart 40 - Decline in Cosmote' mobile financial data - 2011 - 2021
Chart 41 - Change in the number of Cosmote's mobile subscribers by type - 2011 - 2021
Chart 42 - Change in the market share of broadband lines by speed - 2012 - 2020
Chart 43 - Change in the number of DSL lines by platform/provider - 2012 - 2019
Chart 44 - Development in the market share of broadband subscribers by platform/provider - 2011 - 2019
Chart 45 - Development in the market share of broadband subscribers: OTE and altnets - 2012 - 2020
Chart 46 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 47 - Increase in the number of Cosmote's retail DSL subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 48 - Change in the number of Forthnet's broadband and LLU subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 49 - Change in the number of Vodafone's retail DSL subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Chart 50 - Growth in the number of Cosmote's fibre/VDSL subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Chart 51 - VDSL as proportion of all fixed broadband connections - 2013 - 2019
Chart 52 - Growth in the number of Cosmote's VDSL/fibre broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Chart 53 - Decline in fixed-line voice traffic - 2010 - 2020
Chart 54 - Development of Cosmote Group's financial data - 2011 - 2021
Chart 55 - Change in the number of Cosmote's fixed subscribers - 2009 - 2021
Chart 56 - Development of Cosmote's financial data by sector - 2013 - 2021
Chart 57 - Development of Forthnet Group's financial data - 2011 - 2020
Chart 58 - Change in the number of fixed lines in service: OTE and altnets - 2011 - 2019
Chart 59 - Change in the share of fixed lines by OTE and altnets - 2009 - 2019
Chart 60 - Change in the number of fixed lines and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
Chart 61 - Decline in outgoing fixed-line traffic: OTE and altnets - 2010 - 2019
Chart 62 - Development of Next Generation Access household access penetration - 2011 - 2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 - Overview of spectrum auction results - 2001 - 2011
Exhibit 3 - 2G auction results - 2001
Exhibit 4 - 900MHz and 1800MHz auction spectrum - 2011
Exhibit 5 - 900MHz and 1800MHz auction results - 2011
Exhibit 6 - Spectrum auction results - 2014
Exhibit 7 - Spectrum auction results overview - 2001 - 2014
Exhibit 8 - Spectrum auction results - February 2017
Exhibit 9 - Spectrum assignments for 5G - 2020
Exhibit 10 - 3G auction results in Greece - 2001

Greece - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Description

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Greece fast-tracks 5G following multi-spectrum auction

Key developments

Companies mentioned in this report

Table of Contents

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

List of Charts

List of Exhibits