2020 in review and focus on North America: How should telcos do cloud?
5G is now the main driver of VNF deployment. But can telcos be cloud-native without being hyperscaler-dependent?
Research
Defining the future telco — and what it means for operators and their partners
Are telcos smart enough to make money work?
Mobile operators have many of the assets and capabilities required to become a major force in financial services, but they will also need to tap expertise in data analytics/machine learning.
Prioritising automation: Creating a successful building block strategy
Adopting automation, AI and data analytics is a key pillar of telco strategies. This report aggregates the surveyed opinions of more than 100 telecoms execs and provides recommendations on the practical roadmap for achieving this.
SK Telecom’s journey in commercialising 5G
This is part 1 of a 3-part series taking an in-depth look at how 5G pioneers have evolved their approaches to commercialisation since launch, navigating a maze of factors such as handset availability, technology immaturity and more. What should others take from their experience to date?
The $300bn COVID digital health dividend
Our detailed analytical model of 217 digital healthcare markets shows that the COVID pandemic has accelerated the global market four years ahead of its prior trajectory. This means that telcos and others seeking to support this welcome acceleration, and thereby grow valuable new businesses, should boost their plans now.
The Telco Cloud Manifesto
STL Partners believes that telco cloud is a crucial enabler for operators’ success in the Coordination Age. In this manifesto we explain why.
Why energy management is critical to 5G success
Operators’ pursuit of growth through 5G is tied to meeting the challenge of lower, cleaner energy and practical guidance on how to achieve this
Cloud native: Just another technology generation?
Cloud native networking offers operators a promise of efficiency, automation and innovation to underpin their future in the coordination age. But it should also mean a new operating model, new skills and organisation that few feel they are ready for.
Telecoms priorities: Ready for the crunch?
Our latest research covers industry perceptions of likely changes regarding telco investment priorities and activities in 2021. It looks at the relative importance of different technologies (e.g. 5G, automation), propositions in enterprise and consumer markets, networks, strategy and leadership.
eSIM: How to break through the barriers?
Although eSIM technology delivers seamless provisioning and greater flexibility and security – all of which are key to scaling the IoT – adoption has been slow. What should operators do to catalyse a shift towards eSIM in the 5G era?
Commerce and connectivity: A match made in heaven?
Will many other digital commerce and content companies follow Reliance and Rakuten into the consumer connectivity market?
Telco A3: Skilling up for the long term
Over the next 10 years, advances in automation, analytics and AI (A3) are going to drastically change the way telcos manage their core businesses, how their businesses are organised, and the demands of their customers. We outline the core capabilities A3 capabilities telcos will need to remain competitive in their core business and to be effective ecosystem players over the next five to ten years.
The state of the art on work from home propositions
Telcos were quick to respond to changing customer needs as the COVID pandemic forced all kinds of businesses to shift to remote working almost overnight. Now we outline a six-point plan for telcos to evolve their initial WFH propositions into best-in-class services that address a range of security, reliability and performance needs.
Microsoft, Affirmed and Metaswitch: What does it mean for telecoms?
Our in-depth analysis of Microsoft’s play in the telecoms market, why it acquired Affirmed Networks and Metaswitch, and what telcos should do about it.
DataSpark: Lessons on building a new telco (data) business
Singtel’s data analytics business, DataSpark, has achieved some impressive results, but scaling is hard. Its path highlights lessons on dealing with the challenges facing all telcos building new businesses, e.g. how to govern and manage relationships with the broader organisation, measuring success, and finding the right skills and partners.
Want access to our research?
Our research focuses on how telcos and their partners can embrace industry disruption.
Learn more1