10 Big Realities for Telecom Companies

I've been doing quite a few presentations within the telecom sector. I still find a lot of senior management and staff don't get the sheer depth of the massive change sweeping the industry. Here's a list I've put together that outlines the reshaping of the industry -- and which will mean that a good number of organizations in the industry today won't exist tomorrow.

1. Everything commoditizes -- and business plans require radical, instant surgery as a result


2. New competitors continue to emerge overnight -- agility and flexibility are the keys to survival


3. Hyper-innovation means that you must plan for tomorrows' market right now -- and that market will last only six months at best -- before being obsoleted by the next market advance


4. Rapidly evolving technology results in a battle for skills - those who can access specialized global telecom talent are the survivors


5. Telecom service offshores to Asia -- new telco's start to serve global customers at rock bottom prices -- as offshore telecom takes hold as a real business model. Think mainstream carriers can compete?


6. Skype destroys telecom -- not because of Skype-to-Skype calling -- but due to Skype-to-PSTN


7. Yottabit capacity comes to telecom in quantity by 2007, further destroying margins and plans


8. Attitude transformation in existing mainline telecom's becomes a key element for potential survival -- those who realize that "we're not in Kansas anymore" just might make it. Maybe.


9. Plan destruction -- going forward by challenging all assumptions and eliminating habit -- becomes more important than business planning.


10. Generational warfare reshapes the industry at a furious pace. Most telecom's are managed by 40+ year olds. Kids are different, exist in a different world -- and are redefining that world. Those who can tap their insight will be those who can excel.

More information on my keynotes in this area can be found here.