Press Release
LONDON, UK – 19 October 2018 – Respondents to the Broadband World Forum Survey are optimistic despite an industry undergoing rapid change. Some 69% reported positive growth with 19% reporting business had “rocketed” over the past 12 months.
While market competition has propelled investment in gigabit broadband, trials leading to roll out of 5G services, fixed mobile convergence and expansion of connected devices have all contributed to the growth of the industry and digitisation of the consumer.
The new report examines data from 950 respondents, representing 491 companies from 95 countries. Network operators, consisting of fixed, converged, mobile, cable and satellite, made up 51% of the data analysed, with the remaining made up of vendors (23%), Broadcasters (7%) and other (19%) to find out business priorities, investment goals and industry pain points.
While government agencies cite their key focus as bridging the digital divide between rural and urban areas and delivering the 2020-2025 EU Gigabit vision, data gathered from standards bodies reveals the lack of an open regulatory environment in all areas of the EU is a cause of concern as investments are earmarked to promote the development of 5G.
Global network operator comparisons
• Globally, operators are focused on Next-Generation networks (24% of respondents) and Access Technology (18%)
• In Europe, more respondents are focused on Access Technology (30%) than global average, reflecting the need to overhaul or get more out of legacy networks
• A third of Africa registrants show an interest in Next-Generation networks (30%)
• Belgium has a strong propensity towards IoT (23% vs 2% globally)
• Portugal likes the Smart Home (12% vs 3% globally)
• Data analytics and Network Virtualisation weight higher in the UK than average,
• Nearly a third of Spanish respondents have Network Virtualisation as a key focus
• Germany is dominated by Access Technology (25% vs 18% globally) and Next-Generation networks (36% vs 24% globally)
Deeper dive: Network operator data
Fixed network operators
• The future for fixed is fibre and its complementary technologies: FTTH will be the greatest investment for the next five years followed by NG-PON and G.Fast
• Fixed network operators also ranked customer satisfaction as the most important focus for their business, followed by ROI on FTTX or technology investment
Converged network operators
• Customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty is the top priority for business followed by achieving the perfect technology mix to maximise reach and quality of service
• FTTH will be the biggest investment over the next five years, followed by 5G and G.Fast
Mobile operators
• Making the business case for 5G is ranked most important for mobile operators
• Making the network faster is the key investment focus for the next five years: G.Fast far outweighs other technologies followed by NG-PON and FTTH
Cable operators
• Most cable operators noted an improvement in outcomes over the past year but are heavily concentrated on upgrading legacy infrastructure as they look to evolve to a converged multi-offering operator
Broadband World Forum Digital Content Lead Niall Hunt said: “The combination of survey and audience data paints a great picture of the broadband market. Despite the apparent disruption, the market is robust. In an environment where high investment in networks, as we push towards the gigabit society and 5G, as well as the increasingly fickle nature of customers, operators across the globe are painting a rosy picture.”
To download a copy of the report, please visit https://get.knect365.com/bbwf_2018_survey_report/
Interviews available on request
Broadband World Forum runs between 23-25 October at the Messe in Berlin and is the only global event that focuses exclusively on the networks. From the core to FTTx to 5G enablement and the IoT, key industry stakeholders from around the globe will come together for dynamic discussions to address how operators and telcos can overcome the connectivity gap to deliver next-generation infrastructure, while also shining a light on innovation excellence.
