Future Telecoms Operator Business Models (CSPs Survey)

Take the survey & support Télécoms Sans Frontières

Thank you for agreeing to take part in our Future of the telecoms business survey which will support multiple TM Forum research reports to be published between May and December.

The survey explores the visions and expectations of senior telecoms executives with regards new lines of business and business models. While communications service providers (CSPs) offer the same core services, they are taking different approaches to diversification. We are seeking to understand these differences, specifically how CSPs are approaching the Internet of Things and 5G. Are they aligning their organizations for success in these areas? Do they know precisely what parts of the value chain they wish to occupy and the associated business model? And are they building IT and network capabilities that are consistent with this vision?

Please note that survey results will only be presented in aggregate, and individual responses will be kept strictly confidential and anonymous. If you are interested in participating in a follow-up interview with the author, you will have an opportunity to indicate this at the end of the survey.

Help Télécoms Sans Frontières - TM Forum will donate $5 to Télécoms Sans Frontières for every completed survey (up to a maximum value of $1,000). Télécoms Sans Frontières is the leading international NGO specialising in technology and telecommunications for humanitarian crises. Find out more.

Thank you for your contribution to this important survey and for helping support Télécoms Sans Frontières.

Mark Newman
Chief Analyst, TM Forum

Question Title

* 1. What is your organization’s primary region of operation (choose one)?

North America

Latin America/Caribbean

Europe and/or Russia

Middle East and/or Africa

Asia/Pacific

Global

Question Title

* 2. Please indicate your company’s primary line of business (choose one).

Fixed operator

Mobile operator

Converged operator (some combination of mobile, fixed voice and data, and TV)

Data center/cloud provider

Cable operator

Digital services provider (e.g. IoT, smart cities)

Question Title

* 3. Please indicate the number of customers served by your organization (choose one).

Fewer than 5 million

5 million to 25 million

25 million to 50 million

50 million to 100 million

100 million to 150 million

More than 150 million

Question Title

* 4. What is your job function (choose all that apply)?

Network

IT/Operations

Sales and marketing

Product management

Consumer line of business

Enterprise line of business

Corporate management / strategy

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. How optimistic do you feel about the short term (1-2 years) and medium- to long-term (2-5 years) prospects for your business (choose one)?

	Very optimistic	Reasonably optimistic	Neither optimistic nor pessimistic	Reasonably pessimistic	Very pessimistic
1-2 years	1-2 years Very optimistic	1-2 years Reasonably optimistic	1-2 years Neither optimistic nor pessimistic	1-2 years Reasonably pessimistic	1-2 years Very pessimistic
2-5 years	2-5 years Very optimistic	2-5 years Reasonably optimistic	2-5 years Neither optimistic nor pessimistic	2-5 years Reasonably pessimistic	2-5 years Very pessimistic

Question Title

* 6. What should your company aspire to become as part of your digital transformation programs (choose one)?

Best-in-class connectivity provider

Multi-play (fixed, mobile, TV, broadband) operator and service provider

Full digital service provider offering a range of E2E digital services, sometimes in competition with players such as Google and Apple

Platform provider working with partners to bring your services to market

Question Title

* 7. What are your expectations for the global telecoms industry over the next 2-3 years (choose one)?

A slow, gradual stagnation in revenues (and profitability) as competition and regulation continue to bite

Flat revenues with revenues from data and TV services compensating for declines in voice revenues

Gently increasing revenues as CSPs roll out TV services and make promising entries into the IoT/ICT services business

Solid revenue growth off the back of expansion into TV, IoT and ICT services

Question Title

* 8. Do you need a clear understanding of your organisation's medium- to long-term strategy to fulfill your day-to-day, personal responsibilities?

Yes, it is essential

It would be useful to help me prioritise what I do, but it is not essential

No, it doesn't really affect what I do day-to-day

Question Title

* 9. Do you have a clear understanding of your organisation's medium- to long-term strategy to fulfill your day-to-day personal responsibilities?

Yes, senior management regularly communicates our medium- to long-term strategy

I'm not sure. Senior management does communicate with us, but it is not apparent that we have a clear medium- to long-term strategy

No, senior management does not communicate strategy regularly to us