The operators collect a lot of data through the various uses of their subscribers. SFR explains a little more how some can be monetized.
Who says network, says data transfer and when you’re a big operator, what do you do with it? The scale is massive as only 4 billion mobile events (calls, SMS, etc.) are logged each day on the SFR network and since it is aggregated and anonymous, it can be monetized.
SFR uses this data mainly in the context of a geostatistical service, which makes it possible, for example, to monitor population movements in an area. This was for example the case at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, when the CEO of Orange suggested using data collected by operators to monitor the movements of French people while in confinement.
But this data can also be used in other ways. SFR actually added some dynamic concepts to these generated maps and developed its data processing expertise. Thus, the operator has developed algorithms to filter the collected data in order to preserve the useful ones. This processing will also make it possible to avoid very high costs, both financial and in terms of energy, and facilitate data analysis by improving the performance of the tools necessary for the process.
Concretely, this data can for example be sold in the context of tourism. By highlighting particular population movements, and certain behaviors, tourist offices, for example, can better anticipate the most favorable periods for a visit. Tourism players are also part of the Altice subsidiary’s premium customers. To better sell its services, the operator has also developed graphical interfaces to better visualize what the group indicates. SFR can even provide data on international tourists whose SIM card is connected to its network; Roads, frequency zones, etc.
And the operator does not hesitate to look for other means, claiming to explore “many avenues”. A first project was planned with Mastercard, with the aim of combining foreign tourist attendance data with payments. SFR is also looking into the possibility of partnering with research and consulting firms, which can scrutinize data on behalf of other clients.
source: alliance
