12
2013
Annual Report
2013 financial year:
we met our challenges in a convergent market
Even though we are beginning to see indicators pointing towards better socio-economic perspectives
in our environment, 2013 was a year noted, in general, for following the trend of recent years and
specifically because the emphasis has been on cost cutting in all sectors and, in particular, in the one in
which Euskaltel, S.A. operates, together with leading multinational competitors, the telecommunications
sector. In addition and specifically, 2013 was noted for a phenomenon of pressure on prices by the
leading operators, driven by the convergent products.
In this convergent world, Euskaltel has been able to compete and succeed in addressing the challenge
set, as it has an exceptional technological infrastructure, suitably prepared for convergence for many
years and also exceptionally aware of its potential, of the market, the products and its customers. Even
though it has not escaped the effect of the price erosion on the market, Euskaltel’s economic variables
performed better than the comparatives ones in its surroundings and sector, thanks to its customers and
its proven capacity to generate the savings that the customers wish to see in their bills.
Along with convergence and efficiency, the Broadband market has also shifted towards increasing the
Internet capacities towards ultra-fast speeds, partly as the result of the simultaneous use of diverse
and different devices that are increasingly more sophisticated. As regards mobile telephones, customer
demand has also evolved towards products where the reduced rates are justified by the lack of subsidized
terminals, which has driven the sale of free terminals, even in financed models.
