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Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden have the lowest prices for mobile phone calls among OECD countries. The highest were found in Canada, Spain and the United States.
Comparing prices on a medium-use basis for a package of 780 voice calls, 600 short texts (SMS), and eight multimedia (MMS) messages, a survey published in the OECD Communications Outlook found monthly prices ranged from 11 to 53 US dollars across countries as of August 2008.
This table shows annual prices in US dollars broken down by fixed subscription costs, calls and messages.
Source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/622318882036 in OECD Communications Outlook 2009
The Communications Outlook says between 2006 and 2008 mobile phone call prices fell on average by 21% for low usage consumers, 28% for medium usage and by 32% for subscribers with the highest consumption patterns.
The report adds that text messaging continues to be a particularly lucrative market for operators and that recent marketing developments are increasingly offering SMS-based packages targeted at young subscribers.
The Communications Outlook says the share of telecommunications sector revenue from mobile phone use had reached 41% in OECD countries by 2008. The decline in operators’ revenue from fixed telephone lines has, however, been slowed by the expansion of high-speed broadband Internet as subscribers usually keep a fixed line to receive the service.
Further reading:
OECD Communications Outlook 2009