ARPU slip sliding away

New data from TeleGeography this week shows the all-important metric of average revenue per user for wireless operators worldwide is headed in the wrong direction.

While overall revenue continues to grow, the group’s GlobalComms study shows a global decline in ARPU of 13%, led by Eastern Europe’s 27% drop.

North America and Western Europe held their own by losing only 2%. The Middle East saw a 3% drop while the Latin America (8%), Africa (12%), Asia-Pacific (18%) and Eastern European markets saw bigger reductions.

The U.S. and Canada maintained the highest ARPU at $49.60. Operators in Western Europe made $37.40 per customer and Africa made $20.90. The global average was $21.30, down form $24.00 in the second quarter last year.

One North America operator, T-Mobile USA, saw a substantial jump in ARPU, from $42.00 to $54.00. Its counterpart in the Netherlands stayed about the same, dropping just $0.20 to $44.50. U.S. Cellular fell from $47.80 to $44.50 and Telenor Mobile went form $51.60 to $47.50 ARPU.

Globally, some 3G carriers saw vastly different results in different markets. Hutchison 3G in the UK made $37.40 while its average across Western Europe was only $37.40. Hutchison 3G Australia reported $61.80 compared to just $18.90 across the rest of the Asia-Pacific market.

NTT DoCoMo, Vodafone Australia and Unefon Mexico also saw drops of about $8.00, $6.50 and $2.00 respectively.