September 2025 | Here's what's happened in the last month.
What Happens When a New Mobile Operator Enters the Market?
In many countries, just three or four operators dominate the mobile telecom market. Because launching a new mobile network requires expensive licenses and massive infrastructure investments, competition tends to be limited, and prices stay high.
But what happens when a new player enters the mobile markets? Does it really shake things up? Does it really lead to more competition? Do prices go down?
Researchers at the Korea Information Society Development Institute recently sought to answer these questions by analyzing data from 31 OECD countries between 2008 and 2022, tracking the impact of nine new mobile network operators (MNOs) on market competition and pricing (see table below).
The new mobile operators that entered the market in France (Free Mobile, 2012), Italy (Illiad Italy, 2018), and Japan (Rakuten Mobile, 2020) all had a positive impact on market concentration with 10-12% declines in the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI).
The Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), which is often used as a proxy for what customers pay, also dropped by 17–28% after new entrants entered the market. Interestingly, most of this price drop came not from the new operators but from incumbent operators lowering their prices in response.
Do you have a story or research to share? Email us pulse@isoc.org
A Community-Driven Solution for Mapping the World's Internet Backbone
The Open Fibre Data Standard (OFDS) is a common language for describing terrestrial fibre optic networks. It also works to establish norms among operators and regulators for information sharing regarding terrestrial fibre deployments.
The standard facilitates the exchange, analysis, and visualization of fibre network data for different stakeholders, including governments, telecom providers, and researchers.
In 2025, the Internet Society is working to advance awareness and adoption of the standard worldwide through in-person workshops and technical assistance. We are also facilitating the establishment a multistakeholder governance mechanism to guide the evolution of the standard and associated resources.
We are taking the PIMF to South America for the first time, aligning with Media Party, a dynamic event that facilitates the intersection between the media and technology industry in an innovative, international, and “hands-on” way.
MNNOG 7
3 October, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
We are presenting at the 7th Mongolia Network Operators' Forum (mmNOG 7) on the resilience of Mongolia's Internet. NOGs provide a unique platform for Internet and networking experts, government representatives, industry leaders, and other interested parties to share their ideas and experiences.
Internet Measurement Day, Tunisia
14 October, Tunis City, Tunisia
We are participating at Africa's first Internet Measurement Day (IMD) event. IMD is a series of free and open events initiated by the RIPE NCC and ICANN to promote Internet measurement tools to local communities.
We are proud sponsors of the 20th Asian Internet Engineering Conference (AINTEC 2025), which draws together academics, industry researchers, and network operators to discuss Internet measurements related to the Asia-Pacific region.
Stay tuned to our event page for details of these and other upcoming events. And email us at pulse@isoc.org if you’re interested in hosting, partnering, sponsoring, or presenting opportunities.
Exams were again the most common reason governments ordered the Internet to be shut down in July, affecting Internet users in Iraq, Sudan, and Syria.
Afghanistan, 22 September—Ongoing: The Taliban authority in Afghanistan has reportedly cut off fibre connections following failed negotiations between telecom operators. As of 29 September, this ban has become a near-full blackout of the whole country.
India, 9—Ongoing: In September, several Internet Shutdowns were ordered across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Iraq, 20 May—11 September: A recent series of regional and national Internet shutdowns in Iraq corresponding to public school exam days concluded this month. Since May, Iraq has experienced 47 national and regional Internet shutdowns.
Nepal, 3—8 September: The Nepal Ministry for Communication and Information Technology ordered the Nepal Telecommunication Authority to make 26 unregistered social media sites inactive until they are registered in Nepal under the Social Media Directives 2080.
Pakistan, 5 August—Ongoing: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reportedly ordered Internet Service Providers to suspend mobile Internet services in the Balochistan region due to security concerns.
Togo, 26 June—Ongoing: Amid political unrest in Togo, the government is limiting access to multiple services.
Panama, 20 June—Ongoing: Panama's telecom regulator has ordered telecommunication and Internet service providers to suspend services amid unrest in the province of Bocas del Toro.
Iraq, 18 Feb—Ongoing: Iraq authorities have reportedly ordered upstream providers to suspend Internet connectivity to Kurdistan ISP KorekTel due to “non-compliance with paying outstanding debts and continued violations.”
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