Innovation Case Studies

Facebook: Telcos' New Best Friend?

Facebook has changed substantially since we first analysed the company in 2011. In our latest major report we explore the accuracy of our 2011 predictions regarding users, revenue and strategy. We also examine Facebook's current aspirations and challenges and explain why, where and how operators should be working with Facebook to build value. (March 2015, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Disruptive Strategy: 'Uncarrier' T-Mobile vs. AT&T, VZW, and Free.fr


T-Mobile USA’s ‘uncarrier’ strategy has delivered significant net additions, but is it a good strategy - and is the disruption promised by Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son already underway? We compare it to Free Mobile’s disruptive approach in France, and the results of its competitors’ responses. (June 2014, Executive Briefing Service.)

Communications Services: What now makes a winning value proposition?

Consumer and enterprise communications behaviours are changing significantly around the globe as new solutions meet core needs more effectively and change customer expectations. This extract from our latest major report provides insight to the changes, and describes effective strategies that meet these evolving needs for both incumbents attempting to defend existing services and innovators seeking to disrupt and create new value. (December 2013, Executive Briefing Service)

Psychological and social advantages of voice, SMS, IM, and Social Media Dec 2013

Telco 2.0 Transformation Index: Technology Survey

150 senior execs from Vodafone, Telefonica, Etisalat, Ooredoo (formerly Qtel), Axiata and Singtel supported our technology survey for the Telco 2.0 Transformation Index. This analysis of the results includes findings on prioritisation, alignment, accountability, speed of change, skills, partners, projects and approaches to transformation. It shows that there are common issues around urgency, accountability and skills, and interesting differences in priorities and overall approach to technology as an enabler of transformation. (November 2013, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream.)

Telco 2.0 Transformation Index Tech Survey Cover Small

Finding the Next Golden Egg: Sourcing Great Telecoms Innovations

A step-by-step guide for telecoms executives seeking to innovate and develop compelling new services to compete in the 'services layer', and develop a new telecoms business models to replace the contracting voice and messaging revenue streams with new revenues from new products and services and customers. (September 2013, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream.)

Telco 2.0: Making Money from Location Insights

The provision of Location Insight Services (LIS) represents a significant opportunity for Telcos to monetise subscriber data assets. This report examines the findings of a survey conducted amongst representatives of key stakeholders within the emerging ecosystem, supplemented by STL Partners’ research and analysis with the objective of determining how operators can release the value from their unique position in the location value chain. (August 2013, Foundation 2.0, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream.)

Making Money from Location Insights

Telco 2.0 Transformation Index: Understanding Telefonica's Markets and Market Position

This extract from the Telco 2.0 Transformation Index shows our analysis of Telefonica's markets and market position, including economic and digital market maturity, regulation, customers, competition and pricing. It is one part of our overall analysis of Telefonica's progress towards transformation to the Telco 2.0 business model. The other parts of the Telefonica analysis are: Service Proposition, Finances, Technology, Value Network, and an overall summary. Telefonica is one of the companies analysed and compared in the first tranche of analysis that also addresses Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon, Axiata, SingTel, Etisalat and Ooredoo (formerly Qtel). (August 2013, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream.)

Telefonica Telco 2.0 Transformation Index Small

Telco 2.0 Transformation Index: Benefits, Products, Packages and Pricing

The Telco 2.0 Transformation Index helps telcos, their partners and investors improve returns on strategic investments and activities. This page details its benefits, who it is for, and product packages. (January 2014, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream).

Free Mobile: A Prototype for Disruption?


Free.fr’s entry to the French mobile market has achieved extraordinarily rapid market share gains and resulted in comprehensive disruption. An analysis of its technology, tactics, and business model, and a high-level assessment of the applicability of its approach to other markets. (February 2013, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).

Telcos in the Cloud: 3 strategy groups and 3 future scenarios


In this extract previewing our upcoming report ‘Cloud 2.0: telco strategies in the Cloud’ we outline the three main groups of telco cloud strategies identified (Hunters, Gatherers and Innovators), and three future market scenarios (Cloud Layers, CloudBurst and CloudFail). (October 2012, Executive Briefing Service, Cloud & Enterprise ICT Stream.)

Strategy 2.0: From infrastructure to innovation and customer intimacy


In this preview from Part 2 of 'A Practical Guide to Implementing Telco 2.0', we outline the structural, cultural and strategic challenges of building new competences, and a service development process designed to overcome classic industry weaknesses in infrastructure businesses such as telcos and broadcasters. (October 2012, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream).

Cloud 2.0: the fight for the next wave of customers

The fight for the Cloud Services market is about to move into new segments and territories. In the build up to the launch of our new strategy report, ‘Telco strategies in the Cloud’, we review perspectives on this shared at the 2012 EMEA and Silicon Valley Executive Brainstorms by strategists from major telcos and tech players, including: Orange, Telefonica, Verizon, Vodafone, Amazon, Bain, Cisco, and Ericsson (September 2012, Executive Briefing Service, Cloud & Enterprise ICT Stream).

Cloud Growth Groups September 2012

Innovation Strategies: Telefonica 2.0 Vs. Vodafone 2.0

Telefonica and Vodafone are both European-based tier 1 CSPs with substantial revenues, cash flows and subscribers. They have both expanded beyond Europe – Vodafone into Africa and Asia and Telefonica into Latin America. However, their Telco 2.0 strategies are rather different. In this extract from our forthcoming report, A Practical Guide to Implementing Telco 2.0, we outline their Telco 2.0 strategies and their benefits and risks. (September 2012, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream.)

Telefonica Strategy 2.0 Chart

Mobile TV: going 'Round The Side' of telco networks?

Dyle TV, a new mobile TV broadcast network (supported by Fox), was presented at the Silicon Valley Brainstorm against the backdrop of Cisco's VNI (Visual Networking Index) research on forecast growth in mobile video traffic. It was argued that Dyle's model can both take the pressure off mobile operator data capacity by taking video traffic ‘round the side’ and make good use of TV broadcasters’ spectrum. Could this model work, not only in the US but elsewhere around the world? (May 2012, Executive Briefing Service)

Doc Searls, Telco 2.0 Video Still April 2012

Digital Commerce 2.0: Silicon Valley Executive Brainstorm 2012, Day Two (Wednesday 28 March)


Harnessing personal data to revolutionize Payments, Advertising and Retail Experiences. Presentations, votes, output and analysis from the Digital Commerce 2.0 stream of the New Digital Economics Brainstorm, 28th March 2012, in San Francisco. (March 2012, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Strategy 2.0: Google's Strategic Identity Crisis

Google's shares have made little headway recently despite its dominance in search and advertising, and it faces increasing regulatory threats in this area. It either needs to find new sources of value growth or start paying out dividends, like Microsoft, Apple (or indeed, a telco). Overall, this is resulting in something of a strategic identity crisis. A review of Google's strategy and implications for Telcos. (March 2012, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).

Google's Advertising Revenues Cascade

Connected TV: Forecasts and Winners/Losers (UK Case Study)

Our in-depth look at the UK’s highly competitive digital TV market which reflects many global trends, such as competition between different types of content distributor (LoveFilm, YouTube, Virgin Media, BBC, BSkyB, BT, etc.), channel proliferation, new devices used for viewing, and the increasing prevalence of connected TVs. What are the key trends and who will be the winners and losers? (August 2011, Executive Briefing Service)

Chart from Connected TV Figure 2 telco 2.0

LTE & Wholesale: Time to Get Aggressive?

We examine four examples of the growing trend of wholesale-oriented LTE operations, their key challenges and opportunities, and recommend that incumbent operators should be more aggressive in wholesale. (May 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Future of the Networks Stream).

Android: Google's Anti-Apple Virus?

It can be tempting to think of Android as in a two-horse race with Apple. Our analysis shows that the current and future impact of Google's highly successful mobile ecosystem play is much more complex. (March 2011, Executive Briefing Service, Disruption Stream.)

Telcos vs. Internet Players: Act before it’s too late

There's less than 3 years for telcos to take advantage of key strategic ‘control points’ in their battle for sustainable growth in the communications and e-commerce markets, concluded delegates at the Telco 2.0 EMEA Brainstorm in November. How should they think differently about their value and where do they need to (re)focus their attention? Full report from the Brainstorm. (December 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream, Executive Briefing Service)

Cloud 2.0: "Worth $43Bn by 2013" Say Cisco

Cisco say Cloud will be worth $43Bn to telcos in the near future, and have realised savings of up to 40% in both Opex and Capex by transferring all of their own internal IT Services to the cloud - a good example of the Telco 2.0 innovator's principle of 'eating your own cloud-food'. Video interview with Simon Aspinall, Director Data Center, Cloud and Mobility Services, Cisco. (December 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Cloud & Enterprise ICT Stream)

Making Sense of 'Cloud / xAAS': Seven Clear Examples

The point and value of Cloud Services can sometimes seem elusive. Here's a well received presentation that includes a simple, workable definition and seven case studies that illustrate different types of 'Cloud Services' / xAAS (e.g. Network, Platform-As-A-Service). (December 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Cloud & Enterprise ICT Stream)

Vodafone 360 on Android, iTunes: Now Getting it Right?

Vodafone 360 was meant to be a new, social-network centred approach to managing the customer interface. Unfortunately, it was also bug-ridden and dogged by a lack of clarity of purpose. Now, its availability on Android Market and iTunes may create a strategic opportunity for Vodafone to access more customers. (August 2010, Executive Briefing Service)

Is Ribbit worth $105m to BT yet?

How is the strategic rationale for BT’s acquisition of Ribbit as their ‘Voice 2.0’ platform working out? We spoke with Crick Waters, Ribbit's co-founder and EVP. (July 2010)

New Strategy Report: Telco 2.0 Case Directory - 5 'Use Cases', 10 Case Studies

A new 255 page report describing 5 new 'Use Cases', detailed descriptions / mini business cases for new, near term Telco 2.0 applications. The report also details 10 Case Studies from Telecoms and adjacent industries that illustrate key principles and early market progress. (May 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Telco 2.0 Transformation Stream)

The Impact of Netflix: Can Telcos Help Hollywood?

As Apple’s business model transformed digital music, the success of Netflix’s subscription business model is changing the dynamics of the Film and TV industry. We examine how telcos can help Hollywood with online distribution to survive and thrive in these turbulent times. (April 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

RIM: how does the BlackBerry fit with Telco 2.0 strategies?

Our analysis of how RIM’s BlackBerry business model may offer operators interesting near term opportunities to manage smartphone data traffic costs, and partner with to exploit future ‘Telco 2.0’ opportunities. (March 2010, Executive Briefing Service)

Apple iPad: Business Model Analysis

Summary: What is the true significance of the iPad? A 'solution in search of a problem' or a ‘revolution in a tablet’? An analysis of Apple's strategy and business model, as it relates to digital publishing and the dangers for telcos. (February 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Mobile Advertising and Marketing: Text-based Local Search Use Case

This new "Use Case" shows a practical and detailed new application of Telco 2.0 ideas to Digital Marketing, including the customer experience and outline business case. (January 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Telenor’s Voice 2.0 Strategy: ‘Mobilt Bedriftsnett’ Case Study

Telenor’s new ‘Mobile Business Network’ integrates SME’s mobile and fixed phone systems via managed APIs, providing added functionality and delivering greater business efficiency. It uses a ‘two-sided’ business model strategy and targets the market via developers. (December 2009, Executive Briefing Service)

Amazon 2.0: Four Levels of Strategic Business Model Transformation

Amazon's stock continues to beat the bull market. Its success is based on a four level transformation to a ‘two-sided' strategy. What are the lessons for would-be platform players, including fledgling ‘Telco2.0s' and software platform owners? (November 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream, Foundation 2.0)

Use Cases 2.0: Five new business models in action

Detailed explorations of new concepts for: mobile marketing, mobile money, smart grids, mobile broadband, and SME services. (October 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Telco 2.0 Transformation Stream)

QQ: China's Monster 'Facebook' - on a screen near you soon

An analysis of QQ.com - a profitable Chinese social networking and instant messaging service with 1 billion usernames, 75 million peak concurrent users, and plans to grow beyond China. (October 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Case Study: how to grow when your core market shrinks

Only the fit survive market changes, and evolving the business model to adapt is key. Strategy lessons for telcos and vendors alike from Boungiorno, a content aggregator that evolved to beat the shrinking portal services market. (October 2009, Executive Briefing Service)

Voice and Messaging 2.0: Innovators' Directory 2009

The Telco 2.0 review of the most significant non-telco Voice and Messaging innovators in terms of competitive threat, route-to-market partner opportunity, and opportunity to learn from. (Executive Briefing, Oct 2009).

ESPN: Making ‘pay-for-content’ work – a telco opportunity

The sports network ESPN is a master of the paid content business model, building platform scale and success using premium content. What are the lessons from ESPN’s US and UK strategies for other service providers and content distributors? (September 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).

Google Voice: one of the key battlegrounds for Telcos

Google Voice, managing Customer Data, and Location Services will be among the key battlegrounds where Telcos' emerging business models and Google are likely to clash, according to a new Telco 2.0 Briefing to be published in October. It is previewed here. (September 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Vodafone business model: Increasingly ‘two-sided’

Vittorio Colao, CEO, presented his strategy last week at a Goldman Sachs investors conference. It appears highly aligned with Telco 2.0 principles, embracing new enablers for upstream customers, openness, and social networks. (September 2009, Executive Briefing Service)

Orange / T-Mobile UK Merger: An Investor's View

Orange and T-Mobile UK are merging, thereby consolidating two of the UK's five mobile operators. What are the likely benefits and consequences, and the implications from an investor's viewpoint? A guest article from Telco 2.0 partners Arete Research. (September 2009, Executive Briefing Service)

Mobile Advertising: 100 times more 'eyeballs' - Blyk's Wholesale Strategy

An analysis of Blyk's recent move from a retail to wholesale business model provides important lessons for the mobile marketing industry as a whole. (September 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Digital Money: Agents are the Key to Mobile Money Transfer

New data from M-PESA shows clearly how its success is directly related to its network of trusted agents - a critical success factor for any mobile money project. (September 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

The 'Two-Sided' Business Model Use Case Project

The theory of 'Two-Sided' Telecoms Business Models is becoming increasingly well known. The Telco 2.0 "Use Case" research project is analysing both actual and potential practical examples in greater detail. (August 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream)

Case Study: Mobile Signature solution approaches key growth milestone

Mobile Signature, a live example of a two-sided telecoms business model is approaching a key inter-operability milestone. Here is a review of the progress, the model, and its potential. (July 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).

Twitt-o-nomics: How will Twitter make money?

Twitter's business model seems to be the familiar - "Web 2.0 Flip" - build an audience and sell to someone who thinks they can monetize it. There are key lessons to be learnt from Twitter for Telcos and other service providers. (July 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).

Mobile Payments: Lessons from the world's leading exponents

An analysis of M-Pesa and Wizzit - one a classic ‘Telco 2.0’ platform, the other an extension to traditional banking services – and lessons for telcos worldwide. (July 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)

Voice 2.0: Beyond ‘Unified Communications’

Four leading Voice 2.0 platforms demonstrate the business model opportunities from delivering 'Communications-Enabled Business Processes' (CEBP) to the highly diverse enterprise and SME market. (July 2009, Executive Briefing Service)

Google - How (precisely) it profits from YouTube

New analysis demonstrates how YouTube contributes to Google's position and power in the 'Digital Economy' and what this means for telcos' online video strategies. (June 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream.)

Nokia's Strange Services Strategy - Lessons from Apple iPhone and RIM

An analysis of Nokia's 10 year services strategy in the light of Apple and RIM's successes. (May 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stram)

M-Banking: can Zain's new business model for ZAP rival M-PESA?

A major emerging market operator, Zain, has entered the mobile banking game with a radically different business model. (May 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream.)

BSkyB Platform - Lessons

BSkyB’s platform shows a multi-sided business model in action, bringing value to both upstream and downstream customers and earning decent returns for shareholders. (Feb 2009, Executive Briefing Service)

Nokia and Symbian, Missing an Opportunity?

The recent purchase of Symbian by Nokia highlights the tensions around running a consortium-owned platform business.

2-Sided Business Model Use Cases - making it tangible

Explanatory presentation and brief on a set of ‘use cases’ we're developing that illustrate how telcos might exploit the 2-Sided Business Model Opportunity. (June 2008, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream.)

Vodafone: Too much data, not enough vo and fone?

Analysis of Vodafone strategy at a key time of leadership change. (June 2008, Executive Briefing Service)

Verizon Wireless’ volte-face: Virtue or Vice?

What are the business model impacts of Verizon Wireless moving to a "less closed" network attachment model? (November 2007)

Hidden Potential, France Telecom

How do major telcos respond to the challenges of Telco 2.0? France Telecom’s experience offers some answers. (July 2007)

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