The wireless industry continues to grow and to change. Yesterday, the focus was on the consumer wireless marketplace. As that sector slows, to continue to show growth for the investor, wireless focus is shifting and expanding. The new sectors are areas like business services, private wireless and 5G Home Internet for the home. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the top competitors and their changing focus.
Wireless has been a growth engine for decades. Today, as we think of wireless, there are a wide variety of companies in different segments to consider.
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile and others
On the services side there are networks like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. There are also MVNO resellers or pre-paid carriers like Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Optimum, Cricket, PureTalk, Consumer Cellular and in fact many others.
On the network side there many companies like Qualcomm, Huawei, Betacom, Nokia, Ericsson, ZTE, Juniper Networks, Celona and countless others, large and small.
Qualcomm, Huawei, Betacom, Nokia, Ericsson, Juniper Networks
There are also plenty of smartphone and tablet makers like Apple with the iPhone and iPad, Google with Android, Samsung with Galaxy, Nokia, Motorola, Sony and in fact many others.
There are so many different wireless companies in different corners of the industry, and they all seem to be making the shift or rather expansion from a focus on the consumer, to now include focus on the business side of the industry.
Business has always had a need for wireless communications. That’s the sector that KORE Wireless has focused on for quite a long time. Now, that sector is starting to catch the attention of other players as well.
Cable TV Xfinity, Spectrum, Altice also focus on business services
Even cable television companies like Xfinity, Spectrum and Optimum have an increasing focus on the business side of the equation to find new growth.
Private wireless will play an increasingly important role. This is a business service for the enterprise, colleges and universities, manufacturing, automotive and so much more.
Think companies on the network side of the industry like Qualcomm, Betacom, Nokia, Ericsson, Amazon Web Services or AWS, Juniper Networks and more.
Business services, private wireless, 5G home internet new growth path
Wireless has been with us for decades. It has gone through many different growth stages over time.
Today, as consumer growth slows, wireless services and network providers need to find new ways to fuel their expansion and keep their investor happy so they do not leave.
Example: During the past several years, competitors like AT&T and Verizon seeing their consumer business slow down started heading in some strange directions. AT&T acquired DirecTV, Warner Brothers, CNN and more. Verizon acquired AOL and Yahoo.
Their stated vision was both impressive and expansive. I remember an AT&T analyst briefing at Warner Brothers Studio. There were tours of the studio and interviews with Hollywood stars and the such.
While that was fun, it was out of place. It was less about wireless, telecom and the Internet and more about entertainment. An industry in which AT&T had no experience or track record.
Both AT&T and Verizon bit off more than they could chew, and they both failed. Eventually they both sold off their acquisitions and focused on wireless once again as the move to 5G got under way.
T-Mobile may be joining AT&T, Verizon with consumer wireless slowdown
T-Mobile was dying on the vine until about a decade ago. Then they finally got their house in order, lowered their prices and started to compete.
During the past decade as AT&T and Verizon struggled to find growth as T-Mobile started their growth curve.
However, that growth will not last forever.
In fact, T-Mobile just announced they are cutting a sizable portion of their workforce. That could mean things are starting to slow down, like it has already done for AT&T and Verizon.
Business services and private wireless are new areas of growth
There are so many different examples with different companies.
Today, we see companies in the wireless business heading in new directions. They are now focused on business services, private wireless and 5G home internet, for growth.
These areas of business services, private wireless and 5G Home Internet are also attracting the attention of a growing number of competitors.
In fact, as we move forward, I fully expect there will increasingly be more services.
Going forward, the industry is not moving away from the consumer side of the business. Rather, they are expanding their focus to include business services, private wireless and 5G Home Internet and the like.
Finally, this looks like the right kind of move for the wireless industry and all its players. It sure makes more sense than a telephone company getting into the entertainment industry. Enough said.
