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At least some observers might have argued that “we do not need 3G.” Some might have argued there “is no need for 4G.” So it is not surprising that some argue there is no need for 5G, either. One argument might be that data growth actually is not as robust as many believe it is. […]

“Value” arguably is the greatest strategic threat faced by all access providers in the internet era, where applications are logically separated from network access. The fear of becoming a “dumb pipe” is precisely the problem all access providers face in an era where consumers buy value in the form of apps available from the internet, […]

Artificial intelligence (machine learning) can make a key difference in forecasting telecom industry market share trends and performance, says James Sullivan, J.P. Morgan head of Asia equity research (except for Japan). Beyond that, non-traditional data sets can shed light on “value,” as quantified by “quality” and “price,” Sullivan says. Consider the key matter of market […]

S&P Global Ratings expects the Indian telecom sector to consolidate with the top three telcos–the Idea-Vodafone combine, Bharti Airtel and Jio–eventually controlling 75 percent to 85 percent of industry revenue. That could lead to a stable industry structure more akin to other markets in South Asia and Southeast Asia. “Jio, through heavy discounting, has managed […]

by Bob Horton, consultant  The prospect of 5G and the Internet of Things by as early as 2020 are already significantly influencing the telecommunications business and the use of spectrum, which is an increasingly scarce commodity. Immense and diverse challenges are emerging. IoT requires almost perfect coverage but with cheap bit rates and a new […]

Back in 2001, there were some 200 global telecom service providers. Now there might be more than 800 service providers. Within a decade, 85 percent of service providers might be gone, reducing suppliers from 800 to 100. What emerges next is unclear. Back in 1980, nearly all those firms were owned by the government. By […]

“Everybody” knows that the telecom industry has a “perception of value” problem. A new conferencing service launched by Amazon illustrates the problem. Before your head blows off, this is a conferencing service normally purchased by businesses, offered by Amazon Web Services. Amazon Chime will be sold direct, and by partners Level 3 Communications and Vonage. […]

Generally speaking, future telecom strategies come in two basic flavors. The first is the “be the low cost access provider” strategy. Among the key issues: can an entity gain enough scale to offset low average revenue per account? Can the entity cut costs fast enough, and continually, and still survive? The other is the “move […]

A growing number of experienced observers now say the industry is headed for a cataclysmic change in the next decade. The optimistic view is that new value propositions and value will drive the industry forward. The pessimistic view is that a) this will not happen, or b) will not have the scale to offset losses […]