IDC Telecommunications Insights: Technology Priorities and Services Strategies

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Meet the Experts

Photo of Courtney Munroe
Courtney Munroe

Research Vice President, Worldwide Telecommunications Research

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Peter Chahal

Research Director, Worldwide Telecommunications Services and Strategies



IDC Telecommunications Insights: Technology Priorities and Services Strategies provides an overview of the key factors impacting the technology purchases of worldwide communications service providers (SPs) and how that supports communications SPs' long-term services and digital transformation (DX) strategies. It examines how pervasive connectedness demanded by consumers, businesses, and governments is directly impacting carriers' road map and strategic objectives. This includes investment priorities, opex challenges, and transformation goals. It highlights the priorities and emerging technologies that will be adopted by communications service providers in the telecommunications segment. The key focus is on the top 40 global service providers as well as the innovative challengers implementing new cloud and software-defined digital platforms.


Markets and Subjects Analyzed


  • Communications SP growth segments
  • Communications SP investment priorities
  • Evolution of the telco cloud
  • Evaluating the characteristics of a digital service provider
  • Communications SP digital transformation use cases
  • Assessing digital and AI-enabled services' impact on revenue in the telecom sector
  • Communications SPs' partnerships with cloud and technology providers
  • Emergence of network APIs offered by comms SPs

Core Research


  • Worldwide Service Provider and Capex/Opex Trends
  • Implementing the Telco Cloud: Communications Service Provider DX Strategies
  • The Service Provider Digital Index: Digital Revenue as a Percentage of Total Revenue
  • Communications SPs as Enablers for Enterprise DX
  • Global Service Provider IDC MaturityScape
  • Global Digital Service Provider IDC MarketScape
  • Key Trends Shaping the Communications SPs' Market

In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct research on specific topics or emerging market segments via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.


Key Questions Answered


  1. What are the key technology challenges for communications SPs (e.g., security, GenAI, network APIs, NaaS, nonterrestrial networks [NSNs])?
  2. What is the timeline for implementing next-gen telco cloud-native functions and the associated platforms?
  3. What are the long-term capex and opex trends for telecom providers?
  4. What are the digital transformation strategies for communications service providers?
  5. Which communications segments are growing, and what are their technology priorities?
  6. What are the key requirements/opportunities for enabling telecom AI and cloud-centric services?

Companies Covered