The most important reason for this is that consumers are satisfied with their present operator. However, operators are increasingly applying agreements limiting the opportunity of consumers to switch.
For example, it has become more common for subscriptions to have longer notice periods: from one month to three months. According to PTS, reduced mobility among consumers may be having an adverse effect on the market.
There is a risk that less switching between operators may lead, among other things, to reduced price competition and consumers ending up with agreements entailing additional lock-in effects. PTS currently has little opportunity to influence the operators' use of longer term agreements, and will study these problems and propose possible measures.
PTS also encourages consumers to actively compare prices between services; for example, using PTS's price comparison tool, Telepriskollen.
Another trend that is apparent from PTS's consumer survey is that 14 per cent of the population currently use mobile broadband, either as their main form of connection or as an additional service. A further 24 per cent could consider switching from wired broadband to only using mobile broadband. Five per cent of the population only use mobile broadband.
Furthermore, the Internet is being used more and more frequently in Sweden. This year, 90 per cent state that they use the Internet. Seventy-five per cent use the Internet virtually every day, compared with 69 per cent last year.
Read the report (only in Swedish)
For more information please contact Stefan Williamson, head of Market Analysis, tel. 0708-114 053 or PTS's Press Office, tel. 08-678 55 55.
The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) monitors the electronic communications and postal sectors in Sweden. The term ‘electronic communications’ includes telephony, the Internet and radio. The Agency works with consumer and competition issues, efficient utilisation of resources and secure communications. Read more at www.pts.se.