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Operator Transitions to 5G SA Core Decline YoY in 2023

Operator migrations to 5G SA remained low in 2023, despite more than 60 operators investing.
Asia-Pacific continued to lead the deployment charts, while Europe gained momentum.
Total number of deployments between 2020 and 2023 reached 55.
Key deals in leading markets helped Ericsson maintain top spot, followed by Nokia, Huawei and ZTE.

Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi – February 29, 2024

The number of mobile operators transitioning to a dedicated 5G core decreased to 12 in 2023. Although numerous operators have been running 5G SA core pilots, they have yet to move forward with the transition because they believe the existing architecture is sufficient to meet the current network demand. Another reason for the staggered deployment is the prevailing macroeconomic headwinds and lack of monetization opportunities with 5G.

The transition should increase following the introduction of 5G Advanced starting in 2025, which promises a plethora of new features that will help improve device and network capabilities, lower OPEX costs and introduce new use cases. However, operators need to urgently prioritize the deployment of 5G SA cores to maximize the potential offered by 5G Advanced.

The delay in turning on 5G SA implies that we might see a bunch of rollouts in a shorter time starting H2 2024 and running into 2025, rather than steady rollouts spread out across the next three to four years.

The gradual penetration of 5G SA into Tier-2 operators and nations with smaller geographic areas appears to have begun as MNOs seek to improve user experience. According to Counterpoint Research, about 30 nations have at least one operator running a 5G SA network commercially. Counterpoint Research forecasts that transitions in H1 2024 will remain sluggish before gaining momentum in H2 2024, which will continue into 2025.

Exhibit 1: 5G SA Deployments by Region, by 2023

As indicated in Exhibit 1, the Asia-Pacific region had the highest number of deployments, followed by Europe. North America, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America trailing behind.

Key Points

Key points discussed in the report include:

Operators – 55 operators have commercially implemented 5G SA, with many more in the testing and trial stages. We are seeing a mix of countries adopting 5G Standalone, with some Tier-2 carriers in LATAM launching 5G SA services. The rate of deployment was slightly faster in H2 2023, with some important Tier-1 operators in developed nations shifting to 5G SA, although the list of MNOs currently in the trial phase is still quite extensive.
Vendors – Ericsson’s role as a leader in 5G SA is expanding, and the Swedish company has the largest market share among all cloud-native core providers. Nokia follows Ericsson in terms of the number of deployments of its 5G core. Both have a considerable number of vendor deals with operators that have not yet been commercialized. South Korea’s Samsung and Japan’s NEC are primarily focused on their respective domestic markets, but they are expanding their reach to Tier-2 operators as the focus shifts to vRAN and Open RAN solutions while emerging vendors Parallel Wireless and Mavenir are collaborating with operators in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Spectrum – Most operators are installing 5G at mid-band frequencies (n78), which give higher speeds and better coverage. Some operators have also started offering commercial services in the mmWave wave n258 bands. FWA and other eMBB are currently the most common use cases, although edge services and network slicing are also gaining traction.
Use Cases – Operators are looking for ways to monetize 5G services, as they are struggling to make the ROI from their investments in 5G. Globally, operators are trying to extract better returns from consumer networks before taking their 5G services deeper into enterprises. Although FWA is a promising application for 5G SA monetization, there are many other use cases that operators can look into to increase their ROI, including network slicing, live broadcasting, XR applications, and private networks.

Report Overview:

Counterpoint Research’s 5G SA Core Tracker, January 2024 is a culmination of an extensive study of the 5G SA core market. It provides details of all operators with 5G SA cores in commercial operation at the end of 2023, covering market share by region, vendor, and the most popular deployed frequency bands. Further, the tracker provides details about the 5G SA vendor ecosystem split into two categories – public operator and private network markets and touches on the potential monetization opportunities for telecom operators across different domains and use cases.

Table of Contents:

Overview
Market Update
5G SA Market Deployments
- Commercial Deployment by Operators
- Network Engagements by Region
- Network Engagements by Deployments Status
- Leading 5G Core Vendors
- Mobile Core Vendor Ecosystem
- 5G Core Vendors Market Landscape
Outlook
5G Standalone Use Cases – Consumer and Enterprise

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

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Global TV Shipments Fall 3% in 2023; China Drives Premium Segment Growth

The global TV market’s shipments fell 3% in 2023 to reach 223 million units.
The US market’s strength proved insufficient in offsetting the weakness in China and Europe.
Counterpoint Research has initiated global TV market coverage with its first joint shipment tracker with DSCC.
Premium TV shipments fell 1% during the year despite extremely strong growth in China.
The premium segment is expected to grow by mid-single digits in 2024 on recovery in the US and Europe.

Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi – February 27, 2024

Global TV shipments fell 3% in 2023 to reach 223 million units as the US market’s strength was not enough to offset market declines across China and Europe, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global TV Shipment Tracker. Samsung Electronics remained in the top spot while Chinese vendors Hisense and TCL grew by mid-single digits, riding the growth in North America.

Counterpoint Research has initiated coverage of global TV shipments with the Global TV Shipment Tracker, a quarterly report split by region, screen size, resolution, average selling price (ASP) and other parameters. This tracker comes in collaboration with DSCC, which Counterpoint acquired recently. DSCC is providing enhanced details on premium segments, including advanced display technologies across OLED (includes QD-OLED), Mini/Micro LED and quantum dot LCD.

“We are excited to roll out Counterpoint Research’s Global TV Shipment Tracker, a powerful tool to assess the market and technology trends as well as the competitive environment,” said Tom Kang, Director, Counterpoint Research. “As the first joint product of Counterpoint and DSCC, the tracker also shows how we are bringing additional value to clients, with the net result much greater than the sum of its parts.”

Source: Counterpoint Research Global TV Shipment Tracker
Note: Numbers may not add to 100% due to rounding

Premium TV shipments for the year decreased 1% annually but increased their market share to 10% helped by a surge in China, which saw its shipments and revenues growing 39% and 49%, respectively. A clear shift towards MiniLED LCD TVs by key Chinese OEMs, coupled with aggressive pricing and promotions, helped drive the segment domestically. The global premium TV segment is expected to grow by mid-single digits in 2024 on recovery in the US and Europe.

Source: Counterpoint Research Global TV Shipment Tracker

“We are expecting premium to do better this year on increasing screen sizes and ASPs,” said Calvin Lee, DSCC Senior Director, South Korea. “Recovery in the US and Europe will be a big factor but, as we are seeing in China, the right balance of features and pricing can be a big driver of replacement rates.”

Background

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Indonesia’s 2023 Smartphone Shipments Down 6%

Indonesia’s smartphone shipments fell 1% YoY in H2 2023 compared with a 10% decline in H1 2023.
High-end ($400-$600) and premium (>$600) segments rose 13% and 11%, respectively, in H2 2023.
Xiaomi increased by 2% YoY driven by strong growth in H2 2023.
Transsion continued to strengthen in 2023, increasing by 34% YoY.
5G smartphone shipments grew 10% YoY in 2023.

Jakarta, London, San Diego, New Delhi, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Seoul, Hong Kong – February 27, 2024

Indonesia’s smartphone shipments decreased 6% YoY in full-year 2023, according to Counterpoint’s Monthly Indonesia Smartphone Tracker. This was a smaller decline than the 10% fall in H1 2023 as smartphone OEMs seized more opportunities during the festive shopping season in H2 2023. During the period, there was an increase in demand for smartphones due to price promotion/bundling programs, offline retail coverage expansion and new launches featuring improved specifications and the latest technology to replace older models.

Source: Counterpoint Monthly Indonesia Tracker, 2023

The high-end ($400-$600) segment grew 13% in H2 2023 helped by the launch of the OPPO Reno10 series, which was introduced to replace the Reno8 T. Other OEMs also kept pace with their smartphone launches, including the Xiaomi 13T, vivo V29 and realme 11 Pro Plus. The premium (>$600) segment grew 11% partly due to the new launch of the Apple iPhone 15, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5/Fold5 series and OPPO Reno10 Pro Plus.

Overall, Xiaomi grew 2% in 2023 largely driven by a 22% YoY rise in its entry-level (<$200) segment in H2 2023. Xiaomi carried out intensive online channel promotions at its Mi store and e-commerce partners in Q3 and Q4 2023.

Transsion Group’s market share grew 34% YoY in 2023 to reach 14% in 2023. Although Infinix still held a bigger share of the group, TECNO and itel witnessed sharp growth. The Transsion brands’ competitiveness was focused on improved specifications at affordable prices. Transsion Group’s partnership with game developer Garena International, best known for its mobile game FreeFire, played a vital role in boosting brand attractiveness.

Although e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Tokopedia, Blibli, and Akulaku were the most accessible channels for online smartphone purchases, offline stores expanded. In 2023, smartphone OEMs expanded their offline retail coverage by opening their official stores in more shopping malls or semi-urban cities and partnering with multi-brand chain stores such as Erajaya. Consumers were attracted to official offline stores due to in-store services such as store atmosphere, support from brand promoters, various payment terms, store promotions and bundling programs.

5G smartphone shipments continued to increase, rising 10% YoY in 2023, with strong performances in the entry-level (<$200) and mid-range ($200-$400) segments. This was despite the slow adoption of 5G in consumer segments due to limitations on the frequency available. Instead, mobile operators continued improving their 4G and expanded their Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) services. Meanwhile, the regulator has been encouraging cellular operators to consolidate to achieve market efficiency and open opportunities to obtain sufficient frequency spectrum to deploy 5G technology. The latest initiative was the discourse on the merger of Smartfren and XL Axiata.

OEMs continued to improve smartphone specifications to compete in the market and provide a better user experience. Top chipset makers like MediaTek and Qualcomm grew the 5G chipset which accounted for 39% and 38%, respectively, in 2023. Also, OLED-type display technology grew 68% YoY in 2023 in entry-level (<$200) smartphones. OEMs were looking for partnerships with other technology OEMs to bring the latest technology to their smartphones, one of which is a partnership in improving sound quality. Dolby technologies for mobile such as Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision grew significantly in 2023. Dolby’s partnerships with several OEMs to enhance smartphone audio with Dolby Atmos are already available across smartphone segments. Likewise, the Dolby Vision feature, which provides improved imaging, was available on premium smartphones.

Outlook

Commenting on the market outlook, Senior Analyst Febriman Abdillah said, “Indonesia’s macroeconomic situation could face high uncertainty in 2024 due to the state of domestic politics along with domestic and global economic tensions. If favorable political conditions prevail through 2024 along with stable macroeconomic growth, Indonesia’s smartphone market is expected to do well, assuming continued digital transformation and optimization of the 4G network in the wider area. We also hope to see continued improvements in smartphone specifications with the latest technology embedded in the upcoming smartphones.”

Background

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Apple Dazzles in Thailand With a 26% YoY Growth in 2023

Thailand’s Smartphone market up 2% YoY in 2023 due to improved consumer sentiment towards year-end.
The <$200 budget segment grew by 17% YoY in 2023 while all other price ranges showed a decline.
Samsung led the smartphone market with a 21% market share, but the overall brand shipments were down 4%.
5G smartphones witnessed a 139% increase in the <$200 segment.

Jakarta, Hong Kong, London, Boston, Toronto, New Delhi, Beijing, Taipei, Seoul – February 27, 2024

Thailand’s smartphone market inched up 2% YoY in 2023, according to Counterpoint Research’s Southeast Asia Monthly Smartphone Tracker. While other SEA markets declined, Thailand was the only one to see marginal growth in a harsh 2023 market as it was helped by the strong performance of the budget segment.

Commenting on the country’s economic situation, Senior Analyst Glen Cardoza said, “The budget segment (<$200) smartphones showed a remarkable improvement in the Thai market and the overall bleak economic situation was a driving factor. The initial political uncertainty in Thailand and a consistently subdued economy discouraged consumers from making big spends. However, this changed as the labour market began showing signs of recovery and average wages increased, giving consumers a respite. This, in turn, contributed towards increasing demand for smartphones, especially among price-conscious consumers.”

Source: Counterpoint Research Southeast Asia Monthly Smartphone Tracker, February 2024

Samsung led the Thailand smartphone market with a 21% market share. However, its shipments declined by 4% YoY in 2023. The brand’s focus on mid- to high-end smartphones cost them some share in the budget segment. Chinese players like Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and realme have all shown single-digit growth due to their focus on the promising <$200 budget segment.

However, Apple enjoyed the biggest growth in volumes, rising 26% YoY, despite belonging to the premium category. Operators saw strong demand for iPhones throughout the year with volumes rising further following the launch of the 15 series.

Smartphones across price ranges fared differently as well. The <$200 budget segment grew by 17% YoY in 2023 while all other price ranges registered a decline. Compared to other countries in the region, Thailand has been showing more receptiveness towards 5G smartphones in the budget segment.

Commenting on 5G and Apple’s success in Thailand, Cardoza said, “5G share was affected due to lower shipments of mid- to high-end smartphones but 5G smartphones witnessed a 139% increase in the <$200 segment in 2023. This jump can be attributed to the ease with which consumers can get 5G and how affordable prepaid and postpaid 5G plans can be in Thailand. Operators are also seeing an uptick in trade-ins and package deals especially for Apple iPhones. The iPhone 14 and 15 series sold well through operators like AIS and TRUE in 2023.”

Cardoza added, “As the economy further improves, consumers across price tiers will look to upgrade and 5G smartphone shipments in Thailand will increase further. The <$200 segment will be the key here as these smartphones will sell more than any other segment.”

Feel free to contact us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.

Background

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Bangladesh Smartphone Shipments Decline 25% YoY in 2023; vivo Takes Top Spot

Smartphone shipments recorded the highest ever annual decline of 25% in 2023 due to economic headwinds.
vivo led the smartphone market for the first time with a 16.1% market share.
TECNO took the second spot with a 15.8% share. Its annual growth almost doubled.
Symphony led the overall handset market (including feature phones) in 2023 followed by itel.
High potential for installed base expansion, easing economic pressures, rise in the value of local currency, and digitalization will boost the smartphone market in the coming years.

Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Seoul – February 27, 2024

Bangladesh’s smartphone shipments witnessed an annual decline of 25% in 2023, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor Service. Economic headwinds in the country, including persistent high inflation and currency depreciation, along with a rise in the value-added tax (VAT) on handsets, affected the smartphone market.

Commenting on the market’s dynamics, Research Analyst Akshay RS said, “Consumer demand for smartphones in the first half of 2023 remained weak in Bangladesh because of higher inflation rates and currency depreciation. This led to the lowest quarterly shipments in Q1 2023 in the previous three years. Besides, consolidation happened in the market with the exit of more than 10 smartphone brands due to difficulty in opening LCs (letters of credit). As a result, the top five brands’ share rose to the highest ever at 68% from 63% in 2022. The smartphone portfolio of the top players shrank compared to 2022 to cater primarily to entry and affordable price bands from where most of the demand came. However, the market started witnessing positive consumer sentiment from the last quarter (October-December) of 2023 as the economy stabilized.”

Source: Bangladesh Handset Shipment Tracker, February 2023
Note: Numbers may not add to 100% due to rounding

Commenting on the competitive landscape and brand-level analyses, Akshay added, “In 2023, vivo led the market with a 16.1% share driven by the strong performance of its Y22 series. vivo developed a strong presence in offline retail and also launched its own online store. TECNO took the second position with a 15.8% market share. The brand almost doubled its volume in 2023 compared to 2022, driven by strategic partnerships with offline stores and aggressive launches of new mid-range models. Infinix captured the third spot in 2023 driven by its affordable models and offline expansion. itel, which is actively capitalizing on the entry-level (<10,000 BDT) segment, received a good response from consumers. Xiaomi slipped to the fifth spot in 2023 but captured the top spot in Q4 2023 driven by its Redmi 12 series.”

The share of 5G smartphones in the overall shipments declined to 2% in 2023 from 10% in 2022 due to poor demand. For many consumers, it is yet to become an attractive feature. vivo continued to lead Bangladesh’s 5G smartphone shipments in 2023 for the second consecutive year, followed by realme and Xiaomi.

Bangladesh’s overall mobile handset market declined 25% YoY in 2023. Symphony maintained its top position in the handset market, capturing an 18% share. The feature phone market declined 24% YoY in 2023 due to the faster feature phone-to-smartphone migration in the second half of the year. Smartphone share in the overall handset shipments was flat at 32% in 2023 from 31% in 2022. Symphony also retained its top position in Bangladesh’s feature phone market, capturing a 39% share followed by itel, 5Star and Walton.

On the outlook for 2024, Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan said, “We believe the pent-up demand for smartphones due to delayed purchases can be fulfilled in 2024 as the macro environment started to show improvements during the second half of 2023. However, a favorable dollar exchange rate, decline in component costs and less difficulty in opening LCs will be the major factors influencing the market growth. The high potential installed base, a huge feature phone-to-smartphone migration, availability of new use cases, development of the supply chain and digitalization will continue to grow the market in the longer term.”

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

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Colombia’s Smartphone Shipments Down 8.4% YoY in Worst Fourth Quarter Since 2020

Q4 2023 smartphone shipments in Colombia decreased 8.4% YoY. The previous lowest Q4 was in 2020.
Samsung remained the market leader despite having shipped less than half of the volume seen a year ago. The brand held a 21% market share in Q4 2023.
Xiaomi was closer to the leader than ever. It grew 74% YoY in Q4 to sit firmly in the second spot with a 20% market share.
HONOR rose 225% YoY in Q4 2023 to reach its highest shipment volume ever. For 2023, it achieved a 6% market share.

Bogota, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, San Diego, Seoul – February 27, 2024

Colombia’s smartphone shipments declined 8.4% YoY in Q4 2023 and 19% YoY in 2023 to reach the worst Q4 and annual volumes since 2020, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor. Some Chinese OEMs are gaining market share in the country, especially HONOR and OPPO. Besides, Motorola gained 100 basis points YoY, while Apple gained 200 basis points YoY.

Commenting on the market dynamics, Senior Research Analyst Tina Lu said, “Colombia was hit hard by macroeconomic turbulence and its economy grew half of what was expected, with the GDP only 0.6% higher in 2023. On a positive note, inflation closed the year in single digits. However, there are potential upside risks for 2024, like El Nino and the rise in fuel prices. Despite the economic struggle, demand is slightly resilient as some OEMs continue to increase promotions. Also, the 5G spectrum auction that occurred in December can become a driver for the market as customers want to experience the new technology. Colombia’s 5G penetration currently stands at 11%.”

Source: Counterpoint Research Q4 2023 Market Monitor
Note: Numbers may not add to 100% due to rounding

Commenting on OEM performance, Research Analyst Andres Silva said, “Samsung suffered the most in the low-end segment in 2023. Consequently, its promotional activities were focused on other devices like the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A24, both from the price band just above the low-end segment. Xiaomi doubled its market share to 20% in Q4 driven by a strategy under which its most promoted device in the open market was the Redmi Note 12, while in carriers it was the Redmi 10C. HONOR jumped 225% YoY by focusing on the marketing of its smartphones through sponsorship of events where the attendees are younger and more tech-savvy. HONOR’s market share of 7% put the brand in the fourth spot in Q4. But for the full year, OPPO took the fourth spot despite HONOR showing 2x growth.”

Source: Counterpoint Research Q4 2023 Market Monitor
Note: Numbers may not add to 100% due to rounding

Other brand insights

Motorola shipped 10% less on a yearly basis. However, the brand increased its share in Q4 2023 to 18% following its focus on mid-level LTE devices.
Apple’s annual volume was the highest ever after a 28% YoY growth. The iPhone 13 series was the main focus of Apple’s promotions even as the iPhone 11 grabbed the biggest share of the brand’s shipments.
OPPO grew 10% YoY in Q4, with the Reno7 persisting as its growth driver after a price cut.

Looking at 2024, Counterpoint expects a single-digit increase in smartphone TAM. Chinese brands will continue their quest to increase market share. As a result, incumbents like Motorola and Samsung will come under extra pressure in the market.

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the technology, media and telecom (TMT) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

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MEA Smartphone Shipments Surge 30% YoY in Q4 2023; TECNO Surpasses Samsung for First Time

MEA smartphone shipments increased 30% YoY and 9% QoQ in Q4 2023.
2023 shipments increased 11% YoY, reflecting growing market demand and improving consumer sentiment.
5G shipments during the quarter grew 60% YoY, driven by Samsung and Apple.
TECNO grew 77% YoY in Q4, surpassing Samsung to lead the market for the first time.
Xiaomi and HONOR were the biggest YoY gainers in Q4 2023 due to multiple new launches at different price points.

London, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Seoul – February 26, 2024

Smartphone shipments in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region increased 30% YoY and 9% QoQ in Q4 2023, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor Service. Globally, MEA was the region showing the highest YoY growth during the quarter, driven by improving economic conditions and rebounding consumer demand.

For the full year of 2023, the shipments grew 11% YoY as consumer sentiment steadily improved through the year with decreasing inflation and stabilizing local currencies. Vendors, which were sitting on high levels of inventory, returned to a more manageable footing after successfully executing multiple sales events and hefty discounts during the year.

Commenting on the market’s dynamics, Senior Analyst Yang Wang said, “MEA experienced remarkable growth, outpacing other regions due to the strong momentum since Q2 2023, as economies steadily recovered. The popularity of smartphones, proliferation of digital services like mobile money and social media, big infrastructure projects, and the expansion of services sectors also proved to be key catalysts, disproportionately benefitting lower-income groups.”

Notably, 5G smartphone penetration has been rapidly increasing over the past few years. In the MEA region, 5G shipments grew 60% YoY in Q4 2023, largely due to broader availability and declining component prices, narrowing the price gap between 4G and 5G chipsets. Many OEMs aggressively introduced 5G technology in lower-price tiers, recognizing this as a significant growth opportunity and enabling consumers to access future-ready devices at more affordable prices.

During the quarter, TECNO saw 77% YoY growth, overtaking Samsung to secure the number-one spot in the MEA market for the very first time. This lead was mainly driven by the <$150 price band, which grew by 68% YoY for TECNO, with models like the TECNO Pop 7 and Camon 20 Pro receiving good response from consumers.

Apple further solidified its position in the top five, growing 26% YoY. This success was mainly due to the popularity of its latest iPhone 15 series in addition to its older series, driven by promotional offers and increased financing options. Moreover, Apple has begun establishing distribution channels in key markets like South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, forging partnerships with operators and key distributors to expand its reach.

Commenting on the premiumization trend in the MEA region, Wang further added, “Premiumization has significantly favored OEMs such as Apple and Samsung. Being an aspirational brand for many in the region, iPhone has become a status symbol across MEA countries. Samsung also enjoyed notable success in Q4 2023 with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5, resulting in a 51% YoY jump in its sales in the >$600 range.”

Transsion Group solidified its status as the region’s dominant OEM, capturing over 36% share in Q4 2023 and 32% during the entire year. Strong marketing campaigns and higher specifications in the affordable segment extended the company’s lead in the region.

Xiaomi grew 49% YoY mainly due to widening product availability and geographic reach. The Redmi 12 series has been particularly successful. HONOR and Motorola grew 426% YoY and 68% YoY, respectively, in the region, driven by their product portfolios’ expansion to cover various price points, particularly in the sub-$200 range.

Background

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Europe Smartphone Shipments Down 3% YoY in Q4 2023, Signs of Recovery Ahead

European smartphone market contracts by only 3% YoY in Q4 2023, marking the first single-digit shipment decline since Q4 2021.
OPPO and vivo’s 5G patent agreement with Nokia should kickstart a recovery for the vendors, although both have lost a lot of ground.
Xiaomi registers highest Q4 shipments in Central and Eastern Europe since 2015.

London, New Delhi, Jakarta, Boston, Toronto, Beijing, Taipei, Seoul – February 26, 2023

Europe’s smartphone shipments declined 3% YoY in Q4 2023, according to the latest report from Counterpoint Research’s Market Monitor Service. This was much less severe than the 24% YoY drop registered in Q4 2022 and also marks the fourth consecutive quarter where YoY shipment declines improved from the preceding quarter, suggesting that the European market, which has been in a slump since Q1 2022, may finally have bottomed out. The Q4 2023 results were underpinned by improving macroeconomic conditions and successful new launches, including a delayed debut of the iPhone 15, which limited the decline in the region.

Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Harshit Rastogi said, “The worst seems to be over for Europe’s smartphone market as it registered a single-digit rate of decline for the first time since Q4 2021. Although Western Europe declined by 5% YoY, Central and Eastern Europe rose 2% YoY during the quarter. Some countries are recovering from their lowest-ever quarterly shipments, including key markets like the UK and Russia, which grew 6% YoY each.”

Commenting on the outlook, Associate Director Jan Stryjak said, “While 2023 was another difficult year for the European smartphone market, the annual contraction improved slightly from -17% to -12%. The region is expected to experience some relief in 2024 driven by Samsung’s early refresh for the A series along with the new S series which boasts impressive GenAI capabilities. Additionally, OPPO and vivo’s patent agreement with Nokia should bring further aid to the floundering market. Google and HONOR are also likely to increase their shipments in the region, especially in Western Europe, as consumers increasingly choose premium devices.”

Market Summary:

Samsung declined by 10% YoY and recorded its lowest Q4 shipments since 2015. Promotional offers for the S23 series helped mitigate the decline in the premium market while the A series maintained its share in the lower and mid segments.
Apple registered a record-high Q4 market share in the region despite recording its lowest Q4 shipment volume since 2015. A warm reception for the iPhone 15 series and continued demand for the iPhone 14 helped limit its decline to just 1% YoY in Q4 2023.
Xiaomi was one of the few major OEMs to grow in Q4 2023, with shipments driven by its Redmi series targeting the mid-price bands and taking some share from Samsung. It gained further ground in Central and Eastern Europe helped by strong Q4 shipments.
HONOR registered a 2% YoY growth in Europe overall, driven by Western Europe where its 31% YoY growth offset a 21% decline in Central and Eastern Europe. The brand has substantially widened its portfolio from that in Q4 2022, reflecting its growing ambition in the region.
OPPO’s troubles continued in the region resulting in a 59% YoY decline in Q4 2023. The brand signed a 5G patent with Nokia in early 2024, which should spark a recovery in the coming quarters. However, OPPO may have lost too much ground to the likes of HONOR and Google.

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Thales, G+D, IDEMIA Pacesetters in 2023 eSIM Provisioning Rankings

Oasis Smart SIM, 1Global, Workz, Valid, Kigen and RedTea Mobile are recognized as ‘Leaders’.
Eastcompeace, 10T Tech, Nordic, Nokia, Teal, Invigo and 1oT have emerged as ‘Challengers’.
The eSIM provisioning ecosystem continued to grow in 2023 and eSIM support is now available in over 100 countries.

Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi – February 24, 2024

Thales, G+D and IDEMIA have emerged as ‘Pacesetters’ in Counterpoint Research’s Global eSIM Provisioning CORE (COmpetitive, Ranking, and Evaluation) study, according to the 2023 edition of Global eSIM Landscape report.

Commenting on the eSIM provisioning rankings and competitive landscape, Senior Research Analyst Ankit Malhotra said, “eSIM has grown tremendously in 2023 with higher operator uptake. Now, eSIM support is available in over 100 countries, with exponential growth seen in eSIM transactions despite Apple not launching an eSIM-only model in Europe. As a result, new players continue to enter the market to meet the growing demand for eSIM provisioning. The consumer eSIM market showed significant buoyancy in 2023 though the IoT market remained subdued. With the introduction of new GSMA specifications for IoT eSIM (SGP.31/32), the IoT market is expected to grow as some of the customers are waiting for standardized products based on the new specifications.”

Malhotra added, “We have analyzed and evaluated key companies in the eSIM value chain using our proprietary CORE framework, which maps active players according to their capabilities and success in the ecosystem. In this dynamic market environment, our evaluation criteria have also changed. We have added multiple new criteria, such as platform reliability and SGP.31/32 readiness. The capabilities cover topics such as platform features, compliance, deployment model, time to market and profile customization abilities. The ecosystem part covers criteria such as geographical reach, partnerships, platform deployments and transactions.”

Commenting on the research findings, Associate Director Mohit Agarwal said, “Thales, G+D and IDEMIA emerged as pacesetters in Counterpoint’s rankings for eSIM provisioning. These three companies stand out from the rest of the market and demonstrate excellence in both capability and ecosystem parameters. On the capability side, Thales emerged as the best player with a very comprehensive all-round platform, which is why it was able to deploy the maximum number of eSIM platforms worldwide. On the ecosystem side, G+D emerged as the best player due to a higher number of transactions.”

Oasis, WORKZ, 1Global, Valid, Kigen and RedTea Mobile have emerged as the eSIM provisioning market ‘Leaders’. All these players made great strides in 2023 to further their reach in the ecosystem. VALID, Oasis Smart SIM and WORKZ showed the highest growth in terms of overall platform deployments. Kigen showed the highest overall growth in the ecosystem parameters. RedTea Mobile stood out, showing maximum improvement overall in this year’s evaluation.

Eastcompeace, 10T Tech, Nordic, Nokia, Teal, Invigo and 1oT have emerged as ‘Challengers’ with very capable platforms but still do not have the required market presence. In this quadrant, Eastcompeace and 10T Tech stand out. TEAL and 1oT, one of the newer entrants, showed good promise with their focused IoT approach. Agarwal said, “Over time, players in the Challenger category are likely to move up to the Leaders quadrant.”

A number of players made it to the ‘Niche’ category due to their business models, which are different from other players in terms of either catering to a niche segment or due to limited geographical presence. For example, achelos and HPE have different business models where they do not provide provisioning services themselves but enable the services for other players.

Counterpoint Research’s Global eSIM Landscape report is the most comprehensive report involving all the leading players in the eSIM ecosystem with multiple interviews and research spanning more than three months.

The comprehensive and in-depth ‘Global eSIM Landscape Report, 2023’ is available for subscribing clients. Please contact Counterpoint Research to gain access to the report.

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

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