Vodafone 2003 Annual Report Download - page 19

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Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report & Accounts and Form 20-F 2003 17
Competition
The Group faces a high degree of competition in each of its geographic markets. As with other telecommunications operators, the Group is subject to indirect
competition from providers of other telecommunications services in the domestic markets in which it operates in addition to direct competition from other current
operators of mobile telecommunications services. Competitive pressures have led to reductions in tariffs, together with other retention initiatives, in order to manage
the level of customer churn.
The Group expects that competition will continue from existing operators as well as from a number of new market entrants following the award of new 3G licences.
Please see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Trend Information and Outlook”for additional information. The scope of this increased competition, and the
extent of the impact on the results of operations, depends on a variety of factors, the outcome of which is currently uncertain.
As at 31 March 2003, the Company had an investment in either the number one or number two operator in 22 out of the 28 mobile markets in which it operates, based
on registered customer numbers. A summary of the Company’s competition in its main markets (defined as having greater than 500,000 registered proportionate
customers) at 31 March 2003 is provided in the following table.
Number of additional Names of additional
Country Service name network operators(1) network operators
Northern Europe
United Kingdom Vodafone 4 Orange ,O2, T-Mobile, 3
Ireland Vodafone 2 O2, Meteor
Netherlands Vodafone 4 KPN, O2, Dutchtone, T-Mobile
Sweden Vodafone 2 Telia, Tele2
Belgium Proximus 2 Orange, BASE (KPN)
France SFR 2 Bouygues, Orange
Central Europe
Germany Vodafone 3 T-Mobil, E-Plus, O2
Hungary Vodafone 2 Westel, Pannon GSM
Poland Plus GSM 2 Centertel, ERA
Switzerland Swisscom Mobile 2 Sunrise, Orange
Southern Europe
Italy(2) Vodafone 3 TIM, Wind, 3
Greece Vodafone 3 Cosmote, Stet Hellas, Q-Telecom
Portugal Vodafone 2 TMN, Optimus
Spain Vodafone 2 Movistar, Amena
Romania Mobifon 3 Orange, Cosmorom, Telemobil
Americas
United States Verizon Wireless 5 national operators AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Nextel,
Sprint PCS, T-Mobile
4 regional operators Alltel, Leap Wireless, Nextel Partners, US Cellular
Mexico Iusacell Digital 4 Telcel, Telefonica Moviles, Unefon, Nextel
Asia Pacific
Australia Vodafone 3 Telstra, Optus, Orange
New Zealand Vodafone 1 Telecom Corporation
Japan J-Phone Vodafone 3 NTT DoCoMo, au, Tuka
China China Mobile 3 China Unicom, China Telecom, China Netcom
Middle East and Africa
Egypt Vodafone 1 Mobinil
South Africa Vodacom 2 MTN, Cell C
Notes:
(1) Table excludes competitors who do not operate a mobile telecommunications network.
(2) Vodafone Omnitel now operates as Vodafone, having migrated to the single Vodafone brand in May 2003.