To fulfill the role of a device-independent content and service distributor, telcos will need to be able to manage a dynamic environment in which multiple entities must work together to deliver what the customer expects. Besides telcos themselves, this ecosystem encompasses device manufacturers, software vendors, content providers and owners, and advertisers. At each junction among all these players, there will be a commercial relationship that, for the most part, will be funded from fees paid at one end and passed along, after profits taken, to the other. So every junction point represents an opportunity for revenue leakage to occur.
The beauty of the triple play bundle lies in its implicit promise that consumers will be able to access virtually any kind of content, any time, anywhere through any device. If service providers don’t deliver the goods—high-quality digital content—consumers won’t realise the benefits of convergence and telecom companies won’t realise a return on their considerable investments. Networking takes on a whole new meaning as telecom players huddle with broadcasters, film studios and music companies, on-line gaming firms and software and equipment manufacturers to invent a brand new industry. To succeed will require recording and billing of extremely high volume, typically low value transactions between multiple parties. Telecom operators are uniquely placed to develop the billing and service provisioning environment to support this for the entire ecosystem. However, moving from current legacy billing and provisioning environments to this new world will be a major challenge.
How PricewaterhouseCoopers can help
Rapid change requires the adaptability to keep pace with the dynamics of the marketplace. PricewaterhouseCoopers can help telecom clients enhance financial performance and improve the bottom line by significantly reducing costs associated with network access, provisioning, remediation, maintenance and service. We can also assist carriers in building the strategy, organisation and performance management environment to take advantage of the opportunity represented by convergence to grow revenues and leverage their existing investments in provisioning, billing and customer care.
