For many people, the assumption is that the mobile industry is booming. That’s certainly how it looks from the outside. However, look a little more closely and the reality is more nuanced. It’s certainly true for some parts of the mobile ecosystem – but definitely not all. Let me put it like this – it’s a great time for mobility but challenging times for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Regulatory changes affecting roaming, net neutrality and M&A have all had a negative impact on premium market offerings and attempts to drive economies of scale through market consolidation by these MNOs. Revenue from core services like voice and messaging has declined with growing competition from over-the-top (OTT) players.
A new content services ecosystem has also evolved. These services leverage ubiquitous mobile access but are developed and managed independently of the MNOs themselves. MNOs also need to keep pace with insatiable demand for bandwidth from these services. They’ve become the de facto internet provider in many markets, and with this comes a constant need to refresh and upgrade networks to meet their customers’ expectations.
How do MNOs weather this ‘perfect storm’? What steps do they need to take to meet these challenges head-on and find success in the mobile industry of the future?
The mobile industry is only 20 years old and has already gone through several cycles, driven by things like changes in consumer behaviour, network and device innovation, and recently the consumption of new media and associated services. The next cycles will be driven by adoption of enterprise and consumer services that reflect innovation within the global digital economy. The question to the MNO community is – can you adapt your assets and market approach quickly enough to take advantage of this new perfect storm?
How do you see the future of the mobile industry? Leave a comment below