Europe : Pyramid Research expects a slowdown in capital expenditures (Capex) by mobile network operators (MNOs) in 2007. Even though MNO Capex volume increased at double-digit rates in 2005 and 2006, new technologies and changing business models are affecting the Capex landscape and consequently the fortunes of equipment vendors.

"We are seeing a trend toward subsiding Capex levels, even in some developing markets," says Daniel Locke, Pyramid Research analyst and author of the report. "In mature markets, many operators have completed the bulk of their 3G investments and are focused on less costly investments such as software, applications, and minimal hardware upgrades to support rising mobile data traffic."

Pyramid Research tracks operator expenditures through its MNO Capex Index(SM), which is composed of 15 top mobile operators from both emerging and mature markets in the world. In the report The Global Mobile Capex Index: Analyzing the Big MNO Spenders, Pyramid Research analyzes Capex levels, trends, and drivers, and compares the strategies of these MNOs.

Companies included in the MNO Capex Index: America Movil, AT&T Mobility, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, China Unicom, MTN, MTS, NTT DoCoMo, T-Mobile, O2, Orange, Sprint Nextel, Telefonica Moviles, Verizon Wireless, and Vodafone.