(Telecompaper) The number of Dutch mobile customers using a virtual operator rose 1.9 percent over the six months to the end of March 2013 to a total 8.1 million, equal to 39.5 percent of the Dutch mobile market. Of the total, 58.4 percent or 4.7 million customers used virtual brands (co-)owned by the mobile network operators. Independent MVNOs counted 3.35 million customers or 16.5 percent of the total Dutch mobile market, up from 16.0 percent in Q3 2012, according to a report from Telecompaper. The number of active mobile virtual operators in the Netherlands, including operator (co-)owned virtual brands, was stable over the past six months, at 66 at the end of Q1 2013, of which 52 were independent MVNO brands and 14 virtual operator-owned brands. Compared to Q3 2012, this includes six new entrants and five exits. The market remains quite crowded; nevertheless several companies continue to unveil new initiatives, either as a standalone mobile-only solution or as an add-on to their existing services. The Dutch national mobile market remains quite saturated, so growth has to come from churn at other competitors and by either finding an untapped niche or introducing new, value-added services.