Operator Billing Barometer 2025: A Year of Consolidation and Expansion
3 min
In its ninth edition of the Operator Billing Observatory, af2m highlights the rapid evolution of this payment solution integrated into mobile offerings. The published figures confirm that this payment method is becoming a lasting fixture in digital practices, with adoption by the French continuously growing.
The Micropayment Market: A Confirmed Positive Dynamic
The year 2025 saw Operator Billing increase by 12% in France, strengthening its central role in the economy of digital services and content. This growth is driven by the rise of streaming platforms, the boom in app stores, and the widespread adoption of dematerialized ticketing.
Key Figures for the Year
This payment channel is attractive due to its simplicity and security, and the 2025 data confirms this:
12million
customers used this payment method at least once in 2025
4,7million
active users per month on average
+256million
operations carried out during the year
884million
euros : operations carried out during the year
These results indicate massive usage, driven by the absence of bank data entry and a fast, intuitive payment process.
Stores and Streaming: Main Drivers
A +17% increase for the predominant segment
he app store and streaming services segment remains the pillar of the market, with a 17% increase in 2025. Players like Google Play, Apple Store, Microsoft Store, Sony PlayStation, and Netflix have widely adopted this payment method.
This sector now represents 55% of the total market value, compared to 48% in 2020, with a total amount of 487.6 million euros (+72 million compared to last year).
In parallel, transactions via Internet + mobile and set-top boxes on merchant sites reached 202.2 million euros, showing a 9% increase. This second axis helps diversify usage.
Transport and Events: A New Momentum
SMS payment for transport and event ticketing is gaining popularity. Approximately fifty French transport operators, including IDF Mobilités, Lille, Clermont-Ferrand, and Rouen, now offer this option.
The sector generated 46.9 million euros in 2025, up 10% compared to 2024, confirming the appeal of this solution for digitalized travel and leisure.
SMS+ and SMS Donations: Stability and New Perspectives
The SMS+ solution continues to be used by media to interact with their audience (votes, contests, surveys), generating 145.3 million euros, a stable figure compared to the previous year.
SMS donations, for their part, collected 1.9 million euros, the same level as in 2024. The year also saw the appearance of the first donation campaigns via RCS, offering a more immersive experience and opening new opportunities for the charitable sector.
The rise of mobile bill payment in 2025 confirms the lasting integration of this payment method into digital practices. Supported particularly by app stores and streaming platforms, it continues to attract consumers thanks to its ease and native incorporation into the mobile ecosystem. These results demonstrate the essential function of direct operator billing in the market for digital services and content.
Alexis TrichetPresident of af2m
