Service providers should start building bridges between where they are now and where they want to be in the digital economy of information, media and entertainment delivery if they want to remain profitable.
A TM Forum report states that while service providers have managed to stretch their margins around voice and voice-related services for longer than expected, they will be relegated to the role of "dumb pipe" unless they consider new retail, wholesale and value-add business models.
These new business models involve service providers as enablers to all stakeholders, including advertisers, retailers, media companies, content suppliers, financial institutions, government agencies and utilities.