Consulting

Analysys Mason offers consulting services worldwide to clients in the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) sectors.  

Our skill set is broad. It has to be. Our clients in the TMT sectors operate in dynamic markets where change is constant. We help shape their understanding of the future so they can thrive in these demanding conditions. To do that, we have developed rigorous methodologies that deliver real-world results for clients around the world.

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    We play a leading role in the formulation of telecoms and media policy and regulation around the world, supporting governments, regulators and operators

    Regulation

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    We provide commercial, technical and regulatory due diligence and business planning advisory services in support of corporate finance transactions

    Transaction Support

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    We advise on policy and strategy, feasibility, detailed planning, delivery and monitoring of super-fast broadband

    Next-Generation


    Networks

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We offer regulatory advice to operators, vendors, media rights owners, regulators and policy makers all over the world.

We specialise in economic cost modelling, policy development, radio spectrum management and licensing, content access and rights pricing.

Our depth of experience arises from our long involvement in this area, from our early work with the European Union in 1985 on the liberalisation of the telecoms sector, through work on the net cost of universal service, LRIC cost models and local loop unbundling policy to digital broadcast TV.

More recently, we have advised an operator on proposed changes to a national regulatory framework,  helped a telecoms regulator in a south African country to examine the effectiveness of past policy and to formulate future policy, assisted operators regarding allegations of margin squeeze and predatory pricing, and identified for the UK regulator, Ofcom, the optimum framework for releasing available digital dividend spectrum to the market in a way that would maximise benefits for the economy and society.

Our people have the quantitative skills, market knowledge and regulatory experience to help organisations tackle the decisions that they need to take.

 
Expertise
 
Related items
Analyst spotlight: Terry Norman talks about wireless networks By Terry Norman | 2 February 2012, Article

This week, we interview Terry Norman – lead analyst for Analysys Mason’s Wireless Networks and Spectrum research programmes – about the greatest challenges currently facing wireless network operators.

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Partnership trends for 2012: some answers, and more questions By Amrish Kacker | 31 January 2012, Article

Operators are excited by the revenue growth opportunity from the adoption of multi-device data services, but the associated cost increases are outpacing revenue growth and challenging profitability.

Read more
The costs of regulated wholesale access in legacy and next-generation broadband fixed access networks By Ian Streule | 31 January 2012, Article

The costing of fixed access networks is becoming more important to the development of superfast broadband and the achievement of the Digital Agenda for Europe. However, national regulatory authorities (NRAs) face conflicting priorities.

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How to make better use of UHF spectrum: use the white spaces, or re-allocate entirely? By Janette Stewart | 13 January 2012, Article

The potential use of UHF white space technology has been widely discussed during the past 12 months – for example, see Analysys Mason’s report, The future of white-space spectrum and opportunities in the value chain.

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Spectrum Quarterly – January 2012 By Janette Stewart | 6 January 2012, Newsletter

In this first edition of Spectrum Quarterly for 2012, we consider the results of recent spectrum auctions in several European countries, and look forward to auctions planned during 2012. We also discuss the sale of AWS licences in the USA, the Danish 800MHz auction and TD-LTE developments.

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We provide commercial and technical due diligence, and business planning advisory services, in support of telecoms, media and technology (TMT) corporate finance transactions. We have worked on more than 200 due diligence assignments across TMT sectors during the past five years.

We regularly work on merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions on both the buy and sell sides, as well as on debt financing and IPO transactions. Moreover, we have extensive experience in supporting bidders for mobile and fixed applications, spectrum auctions and the privatisation of telecoms operators.

We advise clients including investment banks, private equity, vendor financing bodies, export credit guarantee authorities, multilateral financing institutions, developmental finance institutions, leading telecoms operators, telecoms equipment vendors, and telecoms infrastructure and media companies around the world.

We are the established 'partner of choice' in the role of market and technical consultant on many telecoms transactions. Our telecoms-specific focus, our comprehensive knowledge of fixed and mobile technologies, networks and operations in developed and emerging markets, our extensive track record in due diligence projects and our ability to provide independent advice supported by rigorous research, ensures clients receive maximum value from our collaboration.

Examples of projects utilising our due diligence and business planning advisory services include:

  • supporting the EUR4.5 billion successful acquisition of Polkomtel in 2011 and its financing
  • supporting the USD2.6 billion re-financing of Zain KSA.
 
Expertise
 
Related items
The future of broadband in Europe: implications for investment and industry consolidation By Marco Cordoni | 30 January 2012, Article

The combination of dramatic traffic growth and slow revenue growth is putting pressure on mobile operators' cashflows. As a result, operators will have to optimise their network costs if they are to generate a return from mobile broadband.

Read more
Helping a large private equity fund make the right decision in bidding for an Asian cable operator 7 November 2011, Consulting case study

Helping a large private equity fund make the right decision in bidding for an Asian cable operator.

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Helping a startup company secure funding for its plan to lay a dark fiber network in the East and Midwest portions of the USA 7 November 2011, Consulting case study

Helping a startup company secure funding for its plan to lay a dark fiber network in the East and Midwest portions of the USA.

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Broadcasting tower investments have gained momentum in 2011 By Lluís Borrell | 25 October 2011, Article

Europe has seen four transactions involving broadcasting tower businesses in less than 12 months and we understand that others could follow in the coming months.

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Are Chinese vendors entrenching themselves in Africa? By Raushan Sagalbayeva | 24 October 2011, Article

In the last two years, Huawei and ZTE secured a total of at least USD55 billion in credit facility from Chinese policy banks to support their expansion into overseas markets.

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Operators are investing heavily in next-generation networks (NGNs) – that is, packet-based networks using Internet Protocol (IP) and other new technologies to enable the delivery of multiple services over a common platform.

NGNs will enable operators to meet the burgeoning demand for bandwidth across fixed and mobile networks, allowing users to access services and content consistently and seamlessly, regardless of location. NGNs also offer the promise of new services – such as converged fixed–mobile services – and, in the long term, lower operating costs.

Our experts are ideally placed to understand the commercial and technical implications of the evolving NGN environment.

We work with network operators and service providers, technology investors and content providers in order to help them to understand the implications of the NGN evolution, and to develop and implement suitable strategies.

Our ability to understand all the key aspects of NGNs – spanning commercial, technical, operational, regulatory and public policy matters – sets us apart from other firms.

 
Expertise
 
Related items
Scottish Government’s broadband action plans puts it in line with the UK: Analysys Mason comment 2 February 2012, Press release

'Scotland's Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan' was published this week. Of most significance, the commitment to achieve an uplift in next-generation broadband speeds for everyone in the country by 2015, with speeds of 40–80Mbps for between 85% and 90% of premises.

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Transformation of the audiovisual landscape with connected TV – a ‘frenemies’ market? By Olivier Pascal | 31 January 2012, Article

There is considerable debate in the audiovisual industry about the scale and timing of the impact of connected TV (and more broadly, Internet-based TV), as well as discussion of the way traditional and new players will compete and collaborate.

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The impact of accelerated DSL technologies on meeting European Digital Agenda targets By Richard Linton | 31 January 2012, Viewpoint

The European Commission (EC) Digital Agenda for Europe has demanding targets for broadband that include 100% coverage of at least 30Mbps by 2020. This Viewpoint assesses the extent to which accelerated DSL technologies can help incumbents (specifically BT in its UK network) to meet the ‘30Mbps everywhere’ target.

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The costs of regulated wholesale access in legacy and next-generation broadband fixed access networks By Ian Streule | 31 January 2012, Article

The costing of fixed access networks is becoming more important to the development of superfast broadband and the achievement of the Digital Agenda for Europe. However, national regulatory authorities (NRAs) face conflicting priorities.

Read more
Facebook: 100 billion dollar baby By Federico Torri | 31 January 2012, Article

Facebook is planning to launch an IPO in the spring of 2012 with a USD100 billion valuation, reflecting the company's ability to capitalise on its extensive user base and traffic. But what is Facebook? Well, nothing special – it's us connected.

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    We are experts in the development and critical appraisal of operational plans and strategy

    Strategy and Planning

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    We help operators, broadcasters and content providers create profitable service opportunities in the consumer, enterprise and public sector markets

    Marketing and Products

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    We provide independent ICT services, from inception through procurement to implementation

    Procurement and ICT

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Our work ranges from strategy development and review, technology portfolio analysis, revenue uplift and market-entry strategies, customer segmentation, competitor profiling and market analysis.

We recently completed a detailed market assessment to support the investment decision on a European/Asian transit product, and advised on the diversification strategy for a fixed and mobile operator entering the TV content market.

 
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Related items
Mobile operators need to reduce traffic delivery costs by 50%, reports Analysys Mason 3 February 2012, Press release

Efficiency gains in macro sites and rolling out LTE alone will not be enough: Wi-Fi has an important role to play in helping mobile operators.

Read more
Scottish Government’s broadband action plans puts it in line with the UK: Analysys Mason comment 2 February 2012, Press release

'Scotland's Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan' was published this week. Of most significance, the commitment to achieve an uplift in next-generation broadband speeds for everyone in the country by 2015, with speeds of 40–80Mbps for between 85% and 90% of premises.

Read more
Analyst spotlight: Terry Norman talks about wireless networks By Terry Norman | 2 February 2012, Article

This week, we interview Terry Norman – lead analyst for Analysys Mason’s Wireless Networks and Spectrum research programmes – about the greatest challenges currently facing wireless network operators.

Read more
Partnership trends for 2012: some answers, and more questions By Amrish Kacker | 31 January 2012, Article

Operators are excited by the revenue growth opportunity from the adoption of multi-device data services, but the associated cost increases are outpacing revenue growth and challenging profitability.

Read more
IPv6: the story so far By Tony Haigh | 31 January 2012, Article

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) announced in February 2011 that its pool of IPv4 addresses was finally exhausted. The doom merchants had pretty much forecast the end of civilisation when this event occurred if we had not already started the transition to IPv6.

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We are experienced in helping operators, broadcasters and content providers create profitable service opportunities in the consumer, enterprise and public sector markets. Specifically, we can help with segmentation strategy and sub-branding, wholesale services and service creation, proposition development, partnering options and service profitability analysis through the development of complex business models.

Recently, we successfully identified and recruited indirect channel partners to support the growth plan for a leading UK MVNO and helped a top-ten international retail bank develop a mobile banking and payment go-to-market strategy and produce an associated business plan for emerging markets.

 
Expertise
 
Related items
CES 2012: evolution, rather than revolution, paves the way for major disruption this year By Charles Hurpy | 2 February 2012, Article

This year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012), held in Las Vegas last month, gave us a glimpse into the gadgets of the near future. In this article, we examine the current focus on incremental change to enhance the consumer experience, which could result in significant market disruption in the year ahead.

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Evaluating the impact of HTML5 on the future of mobile application development By Karim Yaici | 31 January 2012, Article

Adobe's recent decision to end its support of Flash technology on mobile devices has ignited debate on the potential role of HTML5 in the future of mobile application development. This Comment examines the issues and considers the opportunities that HTML5 could create for mobile operators in the app space.

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Consumer Electronics Show 2012: LTE puts operators back into manufacturers’ distribution strategies By Ronan de Renesse | 30 January 2012, Article

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas in January 2012 gave the industry the first glimpses of upcoming LTE handsets and corresponding operator strategies. LTE will bring handset manufacturers and operators closer together in the short term.

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The future of broadband in Europe: implications for investment and industry consolidation By Marco Cordoni | 30 January 2012, Article

The combination of dramatic traffic growth and slow revenue growth is putting pressure on mobile operators' cashflows. As a result, operators will have to optimise their network costs if they are to generate a return from mobile broadband.

Read more
Mobile content and apps in 2012: the emerging impact of Facebook, Microsoft and mobile usage at home By Ronan de Renesse | 18 January 2012, Article

Two major trends emerged in 2011 that we expect to influence the evolution of the mobile content and apps market during 2012. Competition in over-the-top mobile entertainment services and mobile use within the home will spark strategic changes in the mobile industry.

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Deciding on ICT upgrades can sometimes feel like taking a leap of faith, choosing between competing systems and suppliers in a fast-changing technology landscape. It's no wonder organisations look to  independent, expert advice.

Our specialist ICT services, delivered by our Mason division, provide support from inception through procurement to implementation. Organisations from across the public and private sectors trust us to take them through each step of the process. 

We advise on corporate networks, driving developments in public-safety infrastructure, support governments with next-generation networks, and recommend procurement strategies for telecoms operators.

We provide end-to-end services, including:

  • strategy and business case development – so you can understand and exploit your opportunities through ICT
  • benchmarking and cost optimisation – helping you achieve the best return on your technology investments
  • network review and design – assessing your assets and improving your infrastructure
  • procurement – sourcing the best-value solutions for your needs
  • implementation and supplier management – ensuring your projects stay on track
  • technical assurance – giving you confidence in your systems and networks.

We provide services across the full ICT life cycle, so you can be sure that our advice is realistic and our recommendations are achievable.

Our Mason division advises on all aspects of ICT, including secure, mission- and business-critical networks, fixed and wireless voice and data technologies, control room and contact centre systems, and virtualised IT environments.