Telefónica, Orange and Vodafone lost almost 9 million lines in the last 10 years

The main operators in Spain (Telefónica, Orange and Vodafone) lost almost 9 million mobile lines in porting in the last 10 years, until May 2023, while virtual network operators (MVNOs) grew by 6.5 million since January 2013. The company most affected has been Telefónica (Movistar), which in this period lost 4.2 million lines in portabilities, followed by Vodafone, with 3 million, and Orange, 1.5 million, according to data published by the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC).

Spain’s MásMóvil, whose data began to be recorded by the CNMC in November 2016, has increased its mobile lines by more than 2 million in the last 10 years.

In terms of total portabilities, there have been a total of more than 17.6 million in the last decade.

A DECADE OF LOSSES FOR TELEFÓNICA, VODAFONE AND ORANGE

The year 2021 was the year that saw the biggest losses of lines for the three main operators. Telefónica, with almost 500,000 fewer lines, and Orange and Vodafone with more than 230,000 each.

Telefónica, which accounts for 27.5% of the mobile market in Spain, has not recorded any year of growth since 2013. Its best period was 2018, in which it lost almost 31,000 lines.

Similarly, the worst year for Vodafone was 2013, after losing more than 820,000 lines, without recording any year of growth. Its highest point in 2020 when it subtracted 15,260 mobile lines.

For its part, France’s Orange had its biggest decline in 2020 in Spain, more than 416,000 lines. Its biggest increase in 2016, more than 140,000.

MásMóvil, the smallest of the large operators with a 21% market share, has recorded growth every year. Its highest point in 2018, when it added 623,265 lines.

In the same vein, Yoigo recorded its highest growth in 2013 when it increased its number of lines by more than 132,000. In 2014 alone they had a negative balance of 22,200 lines. In 2016, the year in which it was acquired by Grupo MásMóvil, the operator obtained an increase of almost 80,000 lines.

In addition, the growth of MVNOs, those that do not have their own infrastructure, has slowed over the last eight years. In 2013 they increased by 16.3 million and by 2017 these increased by 121,500, the lowest point of the entire decade.

Over the last two years their portabilities have gradually increased again, reaching 758,000 in 2020, although this figure represents less than half of their 2013 growth.

In the same vein, the pace of porting experienced a decline from 2013 (3.8 million) to 2017 (1 million), over the last five years annual porting figures hover between 1.5 and 1.9 million.

THE MOBILE MARKET IS GROWING

The mobile market has grown over the last decade, from 50.2 million in 2013 to 58.2 million so far in 2023. This has allowed the three main operators to reduce their losses, despite having a negative portability balance.

A decade ago Telefónica had more than 18.2 million mobile lines and a market share of 36.4%, while in 2023 it has 16 million lines and its share has fallen to 27.56%.

On the other hand, Vodafone had almost 13 million lines in 2013, and a 25.8 % share, while the most recent data from the CNMC show that it now has 12.6 million lines, 21.69 % of the market.

The only major operator to increase its total number of mobile lines was France’s Orange, from 10.9 million ten years ago (21.7 % of the market) to 12.8 million this year (22.1 % of the market).

2023 SO FAR

In a highly competitive market that has been marked by price wars, the main operators are recording constant customer losses.

Up to May, the CNMC has reported that Telefónica, Orange and Vodafone continue to fall, with less than 350,000 mobile lines up to May.

The company most affected so far has been Vodafone, which in just five months has lost almost 250,000 mobile lines. If they do not reverse this trend they would reach loss levels similar to those they experienced in 2013 and 2018 (823,000 and 564,000, respectively).

As for the other operators, so far in 2023 Telefónica has lost more than 50,000 lines; Orange, more than 62,000; MásMóvil has increased by almost 15,000, and the MVNOs, have increased by more than 342,000 lines.

In response to the demand for investment involved in the development of the 5G SA (‘stand alone’ or pure) network, Orange and MásMóvil announced their merger earlier this year, which is pending authorization from the European Commission.