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List of mobile network operators in Europe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A mobile network operator, also known as a wireless service provider, wireless carrier, cellular company, or mobile network carrier is a provider of wireless communication services.
> 140%
120–140%
100–120%
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The main mobile network operators in Europe are listed below.
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Albania
Albania as per has 3.66 million subscribers, of whom 2.49 million are active users (101% penetration rate) (Q1 2021).
Active users are considered those who have communicated in the last three months.[1]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Albania is the AKEP.
In 2022 4iG group, owning ONE Telecommunications, acquired a majority stake of ALBtelecom Mobile, 80.27%,[2] to a network merger in 2023.
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Andorra
Andorra has 88,109 mobile subscribers[6] or about 113.63% mobile penetration.
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Armenia
Armenia has 3.5 million subscribers in total, and a 120% penetration rate.[9]
Austria
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Austria has 13.0 million assigned numbers (i.e. 2.0 2G, 10.8 3G and 0.1 4G SIM cards), or a 151.0% penetration rate (Q4 2014).[11]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Austria is the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR).
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Azerbaijan
In December 2005, Azerbaijan had 2 million subscribers in total, a 25% penetration rate.[citation needed] In 2014, Azerbaijan had over 10 million subscribers in total, or a 130% penetration rate.[citation needed]
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Belarus
Belarus has 12.0 million subscribers in total, or a 126% penetration rate in Q4 of 2020.
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Belarus is the Ministry of Communications and Informatization.
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Belgium
Belgium has 13.89 million subscribers in total, or a 124% penetration rate[19] (Q4 2014).
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Belgium is the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT).
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
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In December 2022, Bosnia and Herzegovina had 3.811 million subscribers in total,[25] or a 115% penetration rate.
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Communications Regulatory Agency (Regulatorna agencija za komunikacije, RAK).[26]
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Bulgaria
Bulgaria has 8 014 473 subscribers in total, or a 124.3% penetration rate according to the CRC annual report for 2023.[27]
The regulatory authority for Telecommunication in Bulgaria is the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC).
Croatia
Croatia has 4,404,652 subscribers in total, or a 102.8% penetration rate. (Q4 2019)[29]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Croatia is the Hrvatska agencija za poštu i elektronicke komunikacije (website available in Croatian and English language).
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Cyprus
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Cyprus has 1,392,480 subscribers in total, or a 151.7% penetration rate (excludes Northern Cyprus) (Q4 2022).[32]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus) is OCECPR (Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation).
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Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has 16.121 million subscribers in total, or a 151% penetration rate (December 2019).[39]
Denmark
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Denmark has 8.208 million subscribers in total, or a 146% penetration rate[42] (Q1 2014)
In 2011, Denmark liquidated IT- og Telestyrelsen, it's telecommunications regulator.[43][44]
Former regulator's tasks are divided among four institutions:[45]
- Økonomi- og Indenrigsministeriet
- Finansministeriet
- Forsvarsministeriet
- Erhvervsministeriet
Estonia
Estonia has 2.524 million subscribers in total, or a 188% penetration rate[52] (December 2008).
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands have 61,388 subscribers, or a 126% penetration rate (population 48,652)[56] (2020).
Finland
Finland has 7.700 million subscribers in total, or a 144.59% penetration rate[27] (December 2009).
France
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France has 75.5 million subscribers in total, or a 115.2% penetration rate (September 2015).[57]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in France is ARCEP.
Georgia
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As of November 2024, Georgia has 5,623,128 subscribers in total.
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Georgia is the Georgian National Communications Commission.[63][64]
Germany
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Germany has 114.1 million subscribers in total, or a 140% penetration rate[27] (December 2011).
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Germany is the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA).
Gibraltar
Gibraltar, the British overseas territory, has 0.028 million subscribers in total, or a 92.12% penetration rate[27] (December 2009).
Greece
In 2022, Greece had 11.326 million subscribers in total, or a 109% penetration rate.[2] The regulatory authority for telecommunications in Greece is the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT).
Guernsey
The British Crown dependency Guernsey has 0.055 million subscribers in total, or a 95% penetration rate[citation needed] (December 2005).
Hungary
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Hungary has 11.8 million subscribers in total[71] (December 2017).
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Hungary is NMHH – Nemzeti Média-, és Hírközlési Hatóság.
*900 MHz Hungarian 3G services have been suspended since July 2022.
Iceland
Iceland has 0.470 million subscribers in total, or a 129.19% penetration rate[27] (July 2019).
Ireland
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As the end of March 2022 Ireland had 8.117 million mobile subscribers in total, representing a 158.4% penetration rate.
If mobile broadband and M2M subscriptions are excluded, the total number of mobile subscribers was 5.414 million, representing a 105.6% penetration rate.[75]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Ireland is the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
Isle of Man
The British Crown dependency Isle of Man has an unknown number of subscribers in total and an unknown percentage penetration rate.
Italy
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As of March 2022, Italy has 106.5 million active lines in total, or a 174% penetration rate.[77] The country's telecom regulator is AGCOM.
In 2016 3 Italy and Wind agreed to complete a merger that was approved by European and national authorities, and since March 2020 all consumer and business offers are sold under the new brand Wind Tre.[78]
A new operator, Iliad entered the Italian market in May 2018 as a consequence of this merger.[79]
In 2024 Swisscom acquired Vodafone Italy from Vodafone Group with the aim of merging it with its subsidiary Fastweb.[80]
Jersey
Kosovo
Kosovo has 1.88 million subscribers in total, or a 103.47% penetration rate[83] (June 2018). As of February 2023, Vala and Ipko have been awarded with 5G licenses and are currently under deployment.[84]
Latvia
Latvia has 2.243 million subscribers in total, or a 99.72% penetration rate[27] (December 2009).
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein has 0.039 million subscribers in total, or a 105% penetration rate[27] (April 2015).
The Liechtenstein mobile phone system is attached to Switzerland, and customers of these three providers can roam on Swiss networks without additional fees.
Lithuania
Lithuania has 4.49 million subscribers in total, or a 161% penetration rate (Q4 2023).[90]
Each of the three largest network operators have flanker brands – Pildyk (Tele2), Ežys (Telia) and Labas (Bite).
The regulator is Ryšių Reguliavimo Tarnyba (RRT).
Luxembourg
Luxembourg has 719,000 subscribers in total, or a 148% penetration rate[27] (December 2009).
Malta
Malta has 0.702 million subscribers in total, or a 130.19% penetration rate[91] (June 2023).
Moldova
Moldova has 4.263 million subscribers in total, or a 120% penetration rate[93] (2012).
The country's telecommunications regulator is ANRCETI.
Monaco
Monaco has 0.023 million subscribers on the Monaco Telecom network, or a 70.1% penetration rate[27] (December 2009).
The French networks are also widely available in Monaco, but they do not disclose subscriber figures for Monaco.
Montenegro
Montenegro has 1,097,574 subscribers in total, or a 177.02% penetration rate (October 2013).[98]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Montenegro is (Agencija za elektronske komunikacije i poštansku djelatnost).
Netherlands
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The Netherlands has 22.12 million subscribers in total, or a 125.7% penetration rate[100] (Q1 2023).
The regulatory authorities for telecommunication in the Netherlands are the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM: Autoriteit Consument & Markt) and the Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure (RDI: Rijksdienst Digitale Infrastructuur).
North Macedonia
North Macedonia has 2.299 million subscribers in total, or a 105% penetration rate (Q3 2012).[108]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in North Macedonia is AEC.
Norway
Norway has 5.730 million subscribers in total, or a 108.97% penetration rate[27] (December 2016).
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Norway is the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority.
Poland
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Poland has 58.6 million subscribers in total (Q4 2020).[117]
The country's telecom regulator is UKE (Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej).
Portugal
Portugal has 17.6 million subscribers in total, or a 170.5% penetration rate (13.1 million active subscribers or 127.4% penetration rate)[118] (Q3 2017).
The country's telecom regulator is ANACOM.
Romania
Romania has 23.4 million active subscribers in total, or a 107% penetration rate (2023).[122] The country's telcom regulator is ANCOM.
Russia
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The country's telecom regulator is Roskomnadzor (RKN).
San Marino
San Marino has 0.037 million subscribers in total, or a 116.95% penetration rate[27] (December 2013).
Serbia
Serbia has 9.1987 million subscribers based on the three-month customer activity, or a 128.09% penetration rate[136] (December 2013).
Slovakia
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Slovakia has 7.68 million subscribers in total, or a 132.79% penetration rate. All facts are based on the three-month customer activity base[138] (October 2019).
The regulatory authority for electronic communications "telecommunication" in Slovakia is Úrad pre reguláciu elektronických komunikácií a poštových služieb (RÚ).
Slovenia
Slovenia has 2,772,546 subscribers in total, or a 130% penetration rate[141] (Q4 2024).
Spain
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Spain has 61.424 million subscribers in total, or a 123.80% penetration rate (Jan 2025).[142]
The regulatory authority for telecommunication in Spain is CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia).
Note: The number of subscribers of each operator includes the subscribers of the main brand and the rest of its brands and subsidiaries.
Sweden
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Sweden has 14.3 million subscribers in total, approximately 140% penetration rate (2020).[143] The country's telcom regulator is Swedish Post and Telecom Authority.
There are four main network operators, and they share various 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G network infrastructure through co-ownership in separate network companies. Tele2 and Telenor share network infrastructure through their company Net4Mobility.[144] Telia and Tele2 share network infrastructure through UMTS Nät AB.[145] Tre and Telenor share network infrastructure through 3GIS.[146][147]
Sweden also has a number of flanker brands and virtual operators, most notable are Halebop, Comviq, Fello, Hallon, Vimla, Mybeat, Tellusmobil and Chilimobil.
Some of world's largest producers of mobile network equipment have strong ties to Sweden. Ericsson[148] is based in Sweden while Nokia, Siemens, Huawei and ZTE have major research centers in the country, often clustered around Kista and Lund.[149][150]
Switzerland
Switzerland has 11.365 million mobile subscribers and a 138% penetration rate[152] (December 2014).
The country's telecom regulator is BAKOM.
Turkey
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Turkey has 94.5 million subscribers in total, or a 110.7% penetration rate[156] (Q3 2024).
The telecom regulator in Turkey is Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK : Bilgi Teknolojileri ve İletişim Kurumu).
Ukraine
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Ukraine has 55.860 million subscribers in total, or a 129.8% penetration rate[158] (October 2018).
The country's telecom regulator is NKRZI.
*Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine the national roaming among other operators is free and it includes voice calls, SMS and mobile 2G / 3G Internet at speed up to 512 kbit/s.[159]
United Kingdom
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The United Kingdom has 92 million subscribers in total, or an approximate 139% penetration rate (Q3 2018).[160]
The country's telecom regulator is Ofcom.
See also
- List of mobile network operators worldwide
- List of mobile network operators of the Americas
- List of mobile network operators in Asia and Oceania
- List of mobile network operators in the Middle East and Africa
- List of mobile telephone prefixes by country
- List of telecommunications regulatory bodies
- Mobile Network Codes in ITU region 2xx (Europe)
References
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