n n n n n
 
NTT Mobile
TELECOM OPERATORS

sector Overview:

The telecommunications industry has had to come to terms with a change in the weather, particularly in Europe where the glory days of steadily rising mobile penetration and secondary growth through prepaid tariffs and SMS are now, if not a mere memory, certainly in steep decline. After the frantic investments in the late 1990s and the failure of 3G services to attract a mass customer base most operators are casting around for greater returns. Traditional players are further challenged as they face unforeseen competition from flat-rate wireless VoIP, WiFi and the threat of mobile broadband based on WiMaz. Some telecom and cable operators have responded by offering triple or even quadruple play, which consumers largely see as an opportunity to lower their overall communication costs.

As new entrants challenge their core operations, several telecom operators are also venturing into new businesses. Long-awaited mobile banking services are now becoming a reality – particularly in developing markets where mobile technology has not only leap-frogged existing landlines but also looks set to give the bankers a run for their money. Not without a fight however – take for example the Dutch bank Rabobank which has now become MVNO to increase the overall use of mobile banking services. In addition, with companies such as Virgin successfully linking up a compelling product mix for consumers through providing them with a full suite of mobile, broadband media and banking services, further opportunities for scale driven mergers and more interesting business model innovation are plentiful.

ONES WE ARE WATCHING

 

Vodafone
The world’s largest mobile phone company has for many years been focused on growth through acquisition of customers. However as markets near saturation and its India investments gives it a strong emergent market, the company is increasingly looking for new platforms to drive growth in both existing and new areas. Most notable in recent years has been M-Pesa, the disruptive, low-cost, mobile payment system, that is having a major impact in Africa and beyond. With this success under its belt, the company is becoming increasingly proactive in searching out new major opportunities.

Korea Telecom
Like NTT DoCoMo, Korea Telecom has benefited from close domestic partnerships which have enabled it to be a pioneer of advances such as Ultrabroadband and Wi-Max in major urban areas. With a strong relationship with fellow Korean firms Samsung and LG, Korea Telecom has been able to be the platform for much of their new technology developments from mobile internet and TV through to mass gaming. Now expanding strongly outside its home market, including some interesting moves into Russia, Korean Telecom is an emerging force in global communications.

  

 

 

Adidas
Apple
Aviva
BASF
BMW
Boeing
Cannon
Google
Handelsbanken
H&M
Infosys
LEGO
Lilly
Medtronic
Microsoft
Nokia
NTT DoCoMo
> Company Profile
> Innovation Scorecard
> Sector Overview
> Innovation Drivers
PepsiCo
Reckitt Benckiser
Samsung
Shell
Starwood
Tesco
UPS
Virgin Atlantic