The Future of the Web and its Value Creation for Telcos

The telecommunications market is confronted with unprecedented changes. The World Wide Web and its open technologies allow for a plethora of services – from simple phone calls to complex location-based multi-layer software applications. Telcos face the threat of becoming a mere bit-pipe for web services without taking part in the value creation for the user and the respective revenue streams. New players such as Skype, Google and Apple enter the market – further intensifying the competitive environment for telcos. At the same time, telcos possess invaluable assets: an customer base of billions of customers, fixed-line high-speed telecommunications networks, customer-specific data such as the customer’s location, frequent contacts or other phone numbers belonging to the same account. Telcos need to leverage these and other competitive advantages for a more opportunity-driven future that allows telcos to enter new, more service-oriented markets.