Home > Research and Market Data > Communications Market Reports > The Communications Market 2006 > The Communications Market 2006 Overview > Introduction

1.1 Introduction

This report is the third in a series of annual Communications Market reports, the latest of which was published in August 2005. This edition covers developments across the electronic communications and media sectors in the UK for the calendar year of 2005 with additional analysis for the period to June 2006 where available.

The Communications Market supports Ofcom’s aim to provide best-in-class research to which stakeholders have regular access. It aims to give a comprehensive picture of the radio, telecommunications and television sectors, with a round-up of recent developments and the latest available data on:

• industry size, structure and financing;
• availability, penetration and use of products and services; and
• consumer attitudes and behaviour.

This edition follows a year in which consumers have started to feel the impact of ‘converged’ communications services. At the device level, phone calls can now be made over the internet while the internet can be accessed using mobile handsets; equally television and radio programmes can now be enjoyed over both broadband and mobile phones. Also, at the operator level, the distinction between ‘broadcaster’, ‘mobile operator, and ‘fixed-line’ or ‘broadband’ provider is blurring – in each case there are examples of industry players ‘bundling’ services together in innovative ways, in an effort both to attract and retain customers.

While this report contains separate sections for the radio, telecoms and television sectors, descriptions of converged services can often be found in more than one section – for example the recent trials of radio and television to mobile phones feature in all three. In each case we try to look at such services from a different perspective. In future reports, as services converge further, we will aim to present our analysis in a way which reflects the way they are offered and used more closely.

Ofcom welcomes comment on the content and style of the Communications Market report to help inform future publications. Suggestions and queries should be sent to: market.intelligence@ofcom.org.uk.

The information set out in this report does not represent any proposal or conclusion by Ofcom in respect of the current or future definition of markets and/or the assessment of licence applications or significant market power or dominant position for the purposes of the Communications Act 2003, the Competition Act 1998 or other relevant legislation. We endeavour to ensure that the data in this report are the most accurate currently available.

• Overview - Key communications themes

Back to top