Introduction
We are delighted to present FreeMove’s biannual Performance Assessment Report, developed alongside leading data and analytics consultancy Global Data. The report outlines our activities and achievements in the first half of 2024.
The report is centred on Global Data’s objective and evidence-based evaluation of our performance, assessed against six distinct criteria. These scores are then combined, becoming the basis of a consolidated overall appraisal that measures us both against our key competitors, and our historic biannual scores. Our ratings are summarised in the table below.
Of particular note is FreeMove’s overall score which, is the strongest we have ever been awarded. Our team are extremely proud of this achievement, which is in large part down to consistent progress across the categories of Momentum and Stability, Product Portfolio, and Go-to-Market. We have explored our approach, and specific measures to drive these scores in these three areas, later on in the report.
What’s new:
New deal volumes continue to accelerate
With significant new wins in the first half of 2024 we are on course to extend our strong record of increasing our deal volume every year since 2019 . Our installed base of managed lines reached over 4.4 million in 2024.
Expanded adoption of our Automation offer
Our sophisticated FreeMove Automation Solution (FAS) continues to provide our customers with streamlined simplicity and an enhanced overall experience, with digital order management now supported in 13 countries. The FAS initiative enables customers to digitize the management of their mobile fleets with single, direct, secure access via APIs to our leading mobile operators.
We are delighted that the FreeMove Automation Solution was shortlisted in the Telecoms Excellence Award category at the Glotel Awards 2024. Organized by Telecom.com, the awards celebrate excellence and innovation in telecommunications, highlighting the key contributions of companies and individuals driving progress and showcasing the cutting-edge technologies that are driving the industry forward. Our solution was recognized for its unified access, automated order management, real-time transparency, and seamless integration.
Sustainability Community continues to explore innovation to drive change.
As an organisation we have long demonstrated our sincere and consistent commitment to sustainability. Our Sustainability Community comprises experts from each FreeMove member, and seeks to promote the exchange of best practices, as well as targeted support of customers striving to address their own sustainability challenges. Further details of this, and our wider ESG approach, are included later in this report.
FreeMove gathers for key Paris summit
On 12th and 13th June 2024 we hosted our inaugural FreeMove Alliance Summit in Paris. Featuring a diverse range of insightful presentations and panel discussions, its goal was to bring together our teams and partners to build new connections, exchange ideas, and collaborate.
FreeMove earns prestigious industry award
We were extremely proud to be recognized at the renowned Global Brands Awards 2024. As winners in the Best International Mobile Connectivity Brand – Global category, the judging panel acknowledged our commitment to delivering seamless, reliable, and innovative mobile connectivity across borders, reflecting our increasing global reach, network quality, service flexibility, and market leadership.
FreeMove drives forward in three key Global Data assessment categories.
Attaining a ‘Very Strong’ overall rating from Global Data reflects consistent improvement across our organisation. Three of these categories are explored in more detail below:
Momentum and Stability
Despite continuing geopolitical instability which has impacted businesses in virtually every sector, we have maintained a stable and loyal customer base with close to 100% retention.
With our large addressable market of 500 MNCs, and a sustained appetite for exciting new initiatives for digitization of global mobility management, Global Data expect strong customer interest in our proposition to continue.
Our members’ 5G expertise has continued to attract customers, and we have also received a growing number of approaches from Multi-local companies interested in centralising their operations through our unique value proposition.
Product Portfolio
We have continued to demonstrate innovation and ambition in our portfolio, which includes access services, facilitating Enterprise mobile connectivity management and service and delivery management under a single master agreement all over the world.
In 2022 we introduced FAS, our solution to integrate mobile connectivity management into the customers’ ITSM solutions . The initiative has vastly simplified and streamlined customers’ operations, and by the end of 2024 we expect to have onboarded virtually all of our customers onto the platform.
Our global telecom expense management portfolio offers unrivalled usage detail, including region, business unit, time, and type of connection. We have recently added a new profile for telecom expense management, available in over 65 countries.
Go to Market
Our unique governance model allows us to capitalise fully on our members’ diverse capabilities and unique cultural traits, converting them into clear competitive advantage. This “glocal” approach gives us the flexibility and responsiveness to better address the full breadth of our multinational customers’ needs.
Our members approach and contract directly through their own product portfolios, with the Alliance providing the connectivity, global customer management, implementation services, contracting framework, and reporting tools. However we are continuing to develop our strategy for managed services, investing in our brand, expanding our footprint and building our 5G credentials.
Driving our ESG agenda
Environmental
A key focus of our Sustainability Community will be reinforcing our commitment to sustainability, both in our own operations and in the support of our customers’ initiatives and ambitions. Our DaaS goals and further advances in automation are expected to be key contributors in further driving our credentials in this area.
We are also proud that our four members plus Swisscom hold gold-level EcoVadis certification, and we remain committed to promoting these values among our partners.
Social
Each of our Alliance partners vigorously pursues their own social responsibility commitments. For example Orange Business works tirelessly for digital equity through training provided to both professionals and students, and to improve diversity and gender equity at all levels of its organisation. It also focuses on increasing the representation of women in technical and digital professions, addressing historic imbalances.
Governance
We are a legally incorporated entity with a clearly defined corporate governance structure, comprising a management board, general manager, and functional and support working groups. We are deeply committed to continuing to pursue our strategy of developing our services and capabilities to provide meaningful long-term benefits to our customers.
Summary
With ongoing regional events creating uncertainty for many organisations, our highly resilient and proven value proposition continues to attract a strong new business pipeline, while maintaining a near flawless rate of customer retention. In a rapidly changing world that is being reshaped by technological leaps in 5G and AI, we continue to explore new initiatives alongside our customers, while constantly seeking new ways to enhance our services. As our Alliance enters its third decade, we are growing ever-stronger, as reflected in Global Data’s most recent report. We view the horizon with optimism, inspired by the wealth of new and emerging opportunities for our customers, and look forward to travelling the road ahead in a true spirit of partnership.
About us
Formed in 2003, we are one of the world’s leading mobile telecommunications alliances, combining the national capabilities of Orange, Deutsche Telekom, Telecom Italia and Telia. Our mission is to promote the power of global mobility by enabling collaboration between multinational companies and national operators. We help leading multinationals with a presence in Europe to optimize their investment in mobile connectivity with global access to the most reliable networks through a central point of management.
