Digital Lifescapes

Telecom and pay TV providers are entering a period where traditional connectivity revenue is growing at well under 2 percent a year worldwide, even as traffic volumes, quality expectations, and competitive pressures continue to rise. This widening gap between flat service revenues and escalating investment needs is the central strategic challenge now confronting network operators, tech vendors, and investors across the communications value chain. This transitional environment forces service providers to pivot from "grow by adding lines" to "grow by monetizing experiences, insights, and ecosystems." Enterprise digital transformation, 5G, fiber, and cloud computing are all necessary enablers, but none of them automatically translate into higher ARPU or margin; they need to be coupled with new value propositions and operating models. Telecom and Cable Market Development According to the latest IDC market study, worldwide spending on telecom and pay TV services is expec...

Satellite communications is now driven by Low Earth Orbit (LEO) networks. From once niche technology serving remote outposts, LEO satellites are becoming mainstream — delivering high-speed, low-latency broadband everywhere from city centers to far-flung islands. According to Gartner's latest market study, global spending on LEO satellite communications services will reach $14.8 billion in 2026, marking a 24.5 percent jump in just a single year. LEO Satellites Market Development Unlike traditional geostationary satellites positioned tens of thousands of kilometers above the Earth, LEO satellites orbit at much lower altitudes — typically between 500 and 2,000km. This proximity yields two key advantages for modern communications: 1) Lower latency: Data can travel from ground station to satellite and back much faster, unlocking real-time internet use and interactive applications. 2) Broader coverage and capacity: Large, multiplying constellations can tile the planet, reaching regions w...

The typical customer engagement model is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by the convergence of Conversational AI, Generative AI  (GenAI), and an emerging technology called Agentic AI. As business leaders seek to automate and enhance their customer interactions, these technologies are creating new possibilities for more natural, contextual, and efficient communication at scale. The numbers tell a compelling story. According to Juniper Research's latest analysis, the conversational AI market is poised for substantial growth. Revenue is projected to surge from $14.6 billion in 2025 to over $23 billion by 2027. Artificial Intelligence Market Development The vendors in this industry are expected to generate a remarkable $57 billion globally over the next three years. This growth reflects the increasing enterprise adoption of AI-powered communication solutions across various sectors. What's particularly interesting is the regional distribution of this market. The Far Ea...

As a seasoned industry consultant with roots dating back to the early days of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks, I've witnessed firsthand the evolution of satellite technology and its transformative impact on global communications connectivity. Today, we stand on the cusp of another significant leap forward with the emergence of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites. A recent market study by Juniper Research sheds light on this emerging technology and its potential to revolutionize various industries. VLEO Satellite Market Development VLEO satellites, operating at altitudes between 150 and 450 kilometers above the Earth's surface, represent a new frontier in satellite technology. These satellites offer unique advantages over their higher-orbiting counterparts, including enhanced imaging resolution, lower latency, and improved operational efficiency. As the demand for high-resolution Earth observation and faster communication speeds continues to grow, VLEO satellites are...

In a world increasingly reliant on digital connectivity, the fixed wireless communications market has emerged as a crucial player in enhancing access to high-speed, reliable internet across both densely populated and remote regions. As the global demand for comprehensive connectivity continues to grow, the performance and efficiency of fixed wireless access (FWA) technology have become central to bridging the way we live, work, and communicate online. Fixed Wireless Market Development According to the latest market study by ABI Research , the worldwide FWA subscription base is poised for strong growth, with a forecasted 14 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2029, reaching almost 265 million subscribers by the end of the decade. This trajectory underscores the growing importance of FWA in the telecommunications landscape, as service providers and technology innovators alike strive to deliver connectivity solutions that cater to the evolving needs of both enterprise ...

The global 5G mobile communications sector continues the remarkable progress across many key markets. As of Q3 2023, the world added 537 million 5G wireless connections, bringing global totals to 1.6 billion, which represents an increase of 71 percent over the past year. This growth trajectory suggests an optimistic outlook for the future of 5G adoption according to 5G Americas, and the latest market data from Omdia research. "The global 5G landscape shows positive momentum as innovation and collaboration continue to be the mainstays for long-term progress," said Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas . 5G Networks Market Development Looking ahead, Omdia forecasts that the global 5G connection base will likely reach 1.8 billion by the end of 2023 and 7.9 billion by 2028, as 5G-Advanced network improvements are implemented and work towards 6G is completed. While this represents a significant expansion, it is important to note that this growth may not be linear.  Factors such ...

5G is quickly becoming the predominant network for mobile communications. In 2023, there will be 1.6 billion 5G connections, with growth forecast to reach 6 billion in 2028. Mobile network roaming connections are anticipated to grow 350 percent over the next five years, with the growing presence of 5G and IoT roaming devices being major driving factors of this growth. To capitalize on this demand, data and financial clearing houses must identify the key drivers, as this will allow them to produce targeted services, optimized to help providers in monetizing these trends. 5G Mobile Roaming Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the average revenue leakage per 5G roaming connection will decrease from $1.72 to $1.20, as mobile network operators leverage artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions.  Mobile service provider revenue leakage refers to the value of services provided but not monetized by the network operator. This reducti...

The global enterprise wireless networking market is evolving. Driven by a desire to take advantage of the available 6 GHz communications spectrum, with greatly improved broadband throughput and latency rates, more organizations may choose to adopt Wi-Fi 6E technologies. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, shipments of Wi-Fi 6E access points and routers will rise from 1.5 million units in 2022 to 5.2 million units by 2024. Wireless spectrum expansion is just one facet of the commercial wireless network market transition, as the technology of Wi-Fi customer premise equipment will be upgraded once again with Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be standard) devices. Enterprise Wireless Network Market Development "The adoption of Wi-Fi 7 access points will accelerate following the protocols standardization in 2024, and just two years later, most 6 GHz enabled access point shipments will be supporting Wi-Fi 7," said Andrew Spivey, industry analyst at ABI Research . Anot...

Mobile channels are increasingly important for enterprises to connect with employees, business partners, and customers, with telecom service providers emerging that offer a comprehensive platform that enables the management of this essential tool. Plus, they're now frequently cloud-based solutions. These solutions are collectively known as Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) offerings. There are a number of services that can be considered part of CPaaS platforms, including messaging technologies such as SMS, Rich Communication Services (RCS), and Over-the-Top (OTT) messaging applications. Also offered are push notifications, digital voice services, and email. CPaaS Market Development According to the latest market study by Juniper Research, CPaaS revenue generated within the North American marketplace will reach $15 billion by 2026 -- that's rising from $3.7 billion in 2021. The study found that significant demand for mobile channels -- such as SMS and mobile voice -- ...

The mobile voice communication services market has been prone to technological disruption and over-the-top (OTT) software application innovation. Over the past decade, the mobile voice services landscape has been profoundly affected by several ground-breaking advances in new technology. These include the penetration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in communication services, the rise of highly customized OTT mobile voice and messaging apps, and the deployment of superior cellular wireless connectivity modes -- such as 4G LTE and 5G technology. Mobile Communications Market Development Looking ahead, demand for video calling solutions will drive additional growth opportunities. According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the number of mobile video calling services reached 1.8 billion globally in 2020 -- rising from 1.2 billion in 2019. This represents a growth of 50 percent over 12 months, as the global COVID-19 pandemic fuelled the need for mo...

Most enterprise CIOs and other information technology (IT) executives have the support of their organization's forward-looking board of directors. However, given the current global economy, IT cost optimization is a hot topic at executive briefings about the CFO's budget allocations. Worldwide IT spending is forecast to total $3.8 trillion in 2021 -- that's an increase of 4 percent over 2020. Meanwhile, IT spending during 2020 is now expected to total $3.6 trillion -- that's down 5.4 percent from 2019 levels, according to the latest market study by Gartner. "In the 25 years that Gartner has been forecasting IT spending, never has there been a market with this much volatility," said John-David Lovelock, vice president at Gartner . "While there have been unique stressors imposed on all industries as the ongoing pandemic unfolds, the enterprises that were already more digital going into the crisis are doing better and will continue to thrive going into 2021....

In-flight Entertainment has been the norm on long-haul flights for several decades. In an age where permanent Internet connectivity is commonplace, in-flight Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity is now becoming a standard as well. Developing communications technology, the changing nature of the airline industry and the increasing desire for passengers to stay connected at all times are driving the deployment of new services. Broadband connectivity is drastically changing the consumer passenger experience, the business passenger experience and the operational challenges aircraft operators face. In-flight Entertainment Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, increasing adoption of in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems by airlines and private aircraft operators will drive annual service revenues from an estimated $3.7 billion in 2018 to reach over $8.4 billion by 2023. The research found that systems installation by Low Cost C...

Why travel to meet with employees and vendor partners when you can just as easily interact with them via online video communication? Whatever motivates people to endure airline departure delays and airport security lines, just so they can attend internal business meetings, it clearly isn't their increased productivity. Enterprise videoconferencing and telepresence systems market showed mixed results in the first quarter of 2016 (1Q16), with overall videoconferencing equipment revenue decreasing 21.1 percent quarter over quarter, but increasing 2.3 percent year over year, according to the latest study by International Data Corporation (IDC). The total worldwide enterprise video equipment revenue in 1Q16 was over $495 million -- that's down from about $628 million in 4Q15. The total number of videoconferencing units sold in 1Q16 (101,391) decreased 8.0 percent quarter over quarter, but increased 9.9 percent compared to 1Q15. "Some mixed news for the worldwide enterpris...

Consolidation continues across the key sectors of the digital technology markets within America. According to the latest market study report from  PwC , entitled the "U.S. Entertainment, Media & Communications (EMC) Deal Insights," the second quarter (Q2) 2015 deal value reached $76 billion -- that's compared to $39 billion in the first quarter (Q1) 2015. Furthermore, PwC believes that this trend is being driven by major deals in the Cable ($63 billion), Internet & Information ($6 billion) and Communications ($3 billion) sub-sectors. The abandonment of a major Cable consolidation in Q1 2014 originally valued at $46.2 billion had opened the door for a new and even bigger proposed consolidation in Q1 2015 valued at $55.6 billion. Meanwhile, overall mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal volume, which declined markedly in Q1 2015 (198), recovered some lost ground in Q2 2015 (208) – spurred by Advertising & Marketing (57), Publishing (37) and Internet &...

Security is top of mind for most CIOs, and for good reason. Moreover, the emergence of new and pervasive technologies will present unique security challenges. A case in point: managing identities and access is going to become very important in the evolving Internet of Things (IoT). However, the current form of Identity and Access Management (IAM) cannot provide the scale or manage the complexity that the IoT brings to the enterprise, according to the latest market study by Gartner. "IAM leaders must reconsider how traditional approaches to cyber-security and IAM work in a world where devices and services are so abundant, in so many different forms and positioned at so many different points within the IT ecosystem," said Earl Perkins, research vice president at Gartner . The growth of these technologies means that today's digital businesses must now require a way of defining and managing the identities of entities -- people, services and things -- within a single, s...

There's been a growing concern about the impact of Over-the-Top (OTT) mobile communication software applications -- such as WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat and Skype -- on the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) business model. The negative threat is somewhat obvious, but there is also the potential for market collaboration and business partnerships. While the majority of OTT communications providers concentrate on growing their community and exploring new business models, this market development also provides an opportunity for MNOs to play an integral role -- and thereby re-emerge as a positive force in the monetization process of OTT communications. Findings from a new worldwide survey show MNOs are dramatically changing their strategy and plans to partner with the OTT players. The annual survey by Mobilesquared, revealed that by the end of 2014, 55 percent of MNOs have already formed or expect to form a relationship with an OTT partner compared to only 36 percent in 2013. Most notable,...

Voice services, despite increased competition and the threat of new technologies, remains the most important revenue generator for all but a handful of mobile network operators worldwide. However, voice revenues face immense pressure and will continue to be eroded, prompting providers to create new offerings. Mobile network operators will generate revenues of close to $20 billion by 2018 through strategies involving internet based voice or carrier OTT services, according to the latest market study by Juniper Research.  These Internet voice revenues will be derived from new service propositions and bundles delivered through partnerships with stand-alone OTT (Over The Top) service providers. Why Mobile VoIP will be a Mainstream App The Juniper study found that while OTT service providers have been successful in creating impressive user bases of mVoIP customers, many future revenue generating strategies are likely to involve traditional mobile service providers that have a bil...

With macro-economic uncertainty continuing in numerous markets around the globe, some chief marketing officers (CMOs) at large multinational companies are already being forced to make dramatic budget cuts to both their staffing levels and the associated annual operating budget. One key area of marketing that’s going to be hit particularly hard is the Corporate Social Media team. These organizations -- led by people who consider themselves as “Social Media Experts” -- are notorious for having difficulty justifying their leap-of-faith expenditures. But the savvy senior executive is no longer intimidated by their jargon, or tolerant of their demands for greater budget allocations. Game over. Experts, or not, they’ve now come under the close scrutiny of their CEO -- just as their counterparts in the legacy PR department did during the end of the 20th century. What’s happening here – and why is it surfacing now? The High-Cost of Low-Quality Business Communication B2B Social M...

Emerging vehicle-to-vehicle technology based on Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) -- using the IEEE 802.11p automotive W-Fi standard -- will gradually be introduced in new vehicles, according to the latest market study by ABI Research. Vehicular communication systems are a new type of wireless network in which vehicles and roadside units are the communicating nodes -- providing each other with information, such as safety warnings and traffic information. As a cooperative approach, these interactive automated systems can be used for emergency alerts -- to help avoid highway accidents and upcoming traffic congestion. This proposed technology deployment will be driven by government policy mandates and/or automotive industry initiatives, resulting in a penetration rate of 61.8 percent by 2027. "In the U.S. market there is a real possibility for a Department of Transportation mandate, depending on the outcome of the large scale V2X trial being held in Michigan," s...

Starting today, I'm evolving my Digital Lifescapes postings on a Saturday. First and foremost, my weekly summaries of research by eMarketer will now be posted on my Transmedia Newswire site. Going forward, my weekend posts will be different than in the past -- I'll be sharing more about that editorial transition in an upcoming post. The eMarketer study insights that I share will now be shorter, more frequent and include a link to the source webpage - here's an example from today. Moreover, that content will no longer appear on Digital Lifescapes. Note, I'm the editor and publisher of the Transmedia Newswire. If you subscribe to the Digital Lifescapes feed , then you may want to also subscribe to the Transmedia Newswire feed -- which now includes the eMarketer study summaries and noteworthy insights from numerous other sources. Perhaps you're wondering, why change the GeoActive Group daily publishing schedule? First, I've wanted to increase my ...