ABI Research has seen similar 4G mobile data quota and/or pricing revisions in Norway, Hong Kong, and the US.
CSL Hong Kong launched its 4G service in November 2011.
For 3G mobile data, the lowest tariff can be found in Singapore. Singapore’s M1 offers a 4 GB data plan for $9.62, according to ABI Research.
As 4G devices come down in price, operators will be keen to increase 4G market-share. Cutting tariffs, or boosting data quotas, will be tempting but they need to make sure they achieve greater overall returns.
Voice tariffs are benefiting from LTE. Operators are rolling out voice over LTE (VoLTE). The higher fidelity offered by VoLTE could help overcome the decline in voice-related ARPU. However, VoLTE is not being priced at a premium over existing circuit switched mobile voice services.
Mobile carriers have seen voice ARPU’s decline year-over-year for the last 5 years. Previously, messaging had been seen as the silver bullet to stabilize falling revenues but this segment has been commoditized much in the same way as voice. Mobile Internet data is one opportunity for the carriers to stabilize their revenue outlook through the offering of innovative data centric services.