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Telecom operators are looking to break out of the rut of simply providing connectivity, but face fierce opposition in the form of technology interlopers, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest thematic research report, ‘Telecom Operator Scorecard – Thematic Research’, states that, in domains like the cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and software defined networks (SDN), operators globally need to establish their relevance and build a convincing proposition.
In the report, GlobalData’s Thematic Research Team sets out the big themes impacting telecom operators globally, predicts how they will evolve over the next 12 months and identifies the leading and lagging companies in a world filled with disruptive threats.
Laura Petrone, Senior Analyst for GlobalData, comments: “Telecom operators are increasingly seeking to move beyond the dumb pipe of simple connectivity and diversify in the cloud, AI and SDN. This trajectory will bring them into direct competition with technology interlopers that are also actively targeting segments that telecoms operators might once have seen as their own.”
Telecoms operators should also watch out for China’s growing influence over technology standards as part of the country’s ambition to dominate next generation technologies.
Petrone concludes: “China’s commitment to technology leadership is not just a matter of record; it is an intrinsic part of the country’s strategic plan. We expect to see China trying to exert greater influence over the rules for next generation telecom standards such as 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), in much the same way as Europe dominated 2G and the US 3G and 4G.”
The Thematic Screen
GlobalData’s Thematic Research Ecosystem is a single, integrated global research platform that provides an easy-to-use framework for tracking all themes across all companies in all sectors. The aim of GlobalData’s Thematic Research platform is to provide clients an overview of the big themes that will disrupt their industry and help clients position themselves to benefit from these themes.
GlobalData’s Thematic Screen ranks companies within a sector on the basis of overall technology leadership in the ten themes that matter most to their industry, generating a leading indicator of future earnings growth. Themes are weighted on the basis of their relative importance as a growth driver.
About GlobalData
4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.
