Fixed-mobile substitution and termination rates

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of termination rates on the observed substitution between fixed and mobile calls and access, in a model where consumers can subscribe to one or both types of offers. Simulations show that each (fixed or mobile) termination rate has a positive effect on the take-up of the corresponding service, via the waterbed effect, and lowers subscriptions to the other service, via a cost effect. The prevailing asymmetric regulation, with very low fixed and higher mobile termination rates, tends to have implemented the optimal fee structure. However, the interests of the mobile operators and of the different customer groups did not coincide, and this fee structure may have reduced overall market participation.