Pursuing hyperscale economics
We evaluate the role of disaggregation and cloud native infrastructure and key breakthrough opportunities for network operators.
Research
Defining the future telco — and what it means for operators and their partners
Fibre for 5G and edge: Who does it and how to build it?
There is now a valuable but specialised opportunity in building out fibre to support small 5G cells in high value areas. Which players should address it and how?
Will web 3.0 change the role of telcos?
In recent years, the web 3.0 movement, which seeks to fundamentally change the economics of the Internet, has gained significant momentum. For many telcos, the disruption caused by a shift to web 3.0 could open up opportunities to rebuild relevance and revenues in the consumer market.
Building a green network: Sustainability game changers
Networks consume more than 75% of all the electricity a typical service provider uses in one year. We explore five game changing strategies that can be implemented today to help build greener networks.
Beating the crash: What’s coming?
There are troubling signals in the business environment. Consumer confidence is at an all-time low due to inflation, conflict, Covid and climate change. What are the consequences for telecoms, and what should telcos, vendors, policymakers and others in the ecosystem do?
In the first of two reports we examine the macro forces and outline three key steps to reshape priorities and the strategy agenda.
Telco Cloud Deployment Tracker: 5G core deep dive
In this update, we present granular data on the 5G core, tracking the progress of deployments of both Non-standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) network cores. We recorded 49 5G core deployments so far in 2022, 24 of which are SA launches.
Enterprise Wi-Fi 6/7 is here to stay: 5G is not enough
Wi-Fi will retain its preeminent position for enterprise in-building connectivity, despite hype about 5G. New Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 generations are game-changers that entrench and extend its role and utility in verticals, especially with 6GHz spectrum. Telcos and policymakers should broaden their vision towards “network diversity” rather than solely focusing on 5G.
Why B2B marketplace sits at the heart of a thriving ecosystem
As telcos attempt to capture the B2B revenue opportunity, marketplace is rapidly becoming an industry buzzword. We explore the characteristics of a marketplace and the industries in which telcos have a genuine right-to-play
6G: Hype versus reality
There is a proliferation of reports on the potential technologies and use cases that will be part of the 6G roll-out, but little distinction between what’s real and what’s hype. We identify what 6G is most likely to emerge by 2030, and what telcos and vendors should prioritise now.
Leveraging insight: The neglected strategic capability
Knowledge is power. So why don’t more telcos build it systematically? Expert analysis of four telco insight approaches yields 10 practical recommendations for maximising impact to the whole business, value for money, and minimising subjective bias.
Four goals for the data-driven telco
Truly data-driven organisations excel at understanding their customers, driving new revenues, and evolving their business models. In order to achieve these benefits, telcos will need to create more useable data sets, accessible to all across the organisation – and to external partners in the future. What practical steps should they take to get there?
Telco cloud: short-term pain, long-term gain
Telco cloud came with the promise of agility and returns. Our latest in-depth research examines the evidence, why telcos still believe it will deliver, and what needs to be done to achieve that.
How can telcos be loved?
Loved brands have a range of advantages over other businesses, which over time creates significant commercial benefits.
Simon Best, experienced telco marketing strategist, gives us his take on how telcos can achieve this goal — and which telcos are achieving it.
Why CFOs must drive telecoms business model change
Since we first published this report in 2019, telcos have made significant investments in 5G, but value continues to shift towards service differentiators. Transformation remains at the heart of most telecoms operators’ strategies but change has been painfully slow. This report explains why agility and innovation – the goals of transformation – will remain elusive until CFOs adopt new resource allocation models at their organisations.
The three telco Metaverse strategies
Beyond just connecting it, there are three broad telco strategies for the Metaverse that are being developed and led by Verizon, Telefónica and SKT.
Scaling private cellular and edge: How to avoid POC and pilot purgatory
We evaluate how enterprises are exploring private cellular and edge, the challenges they face in scaling existing proofs of concept and pilots and how they and telco operators can overcome them.
The future of physical retail
Physical retail was under pressure which COVID-19 exacerbated. However, it is not just a matter of decline: telcos are finding new models of hybrid retail that create new solutions that their customers need and embody the Coordination Age.
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