Developing and Emerging Market Communications Service Providers Are Outperforming Says New TM Forum Report

MORRISTOWN, NJ — August 27, 2009 — In a new Insights Business Intelligence Report, “Winning in a Shrinking World: Seizing the Opportunities,” TM Forum revealed today that Communications Service Providers (CSPs) implemented cost reduction measures early and are now producing positive revenue growth. Total revenue growth ranges from slightly negative to double-digit positive depending on market and region, with Developing and Emerging Markets outperforming the Developed Markets, says the report.

Available today, TM Forum’s new business intelligence report analyzes revenue growth by region and steps to assure successful completion of transformation initiatives. It combines Analysys Mason's 2008 through 2012 revenue growth expectations with TM Forum's Q1 2009 year-to-year performance data.

The analysis concludes that the Developed Markets of North America, Western Europe, and Asia/Pacific have the softest performance. Some negative growth was seen for the recent 12-month period, but the majority of the Developed Market is delivering flat to low double-digit growth. On the other hand, Developing and Emerging Markets show stronger overall performance with total revenue growth averaging 10-20%.

The Business Intelligence report concludes that:
• The economic downturn is real
• Cost reduction is a primary driver
• Strategic initiatives continue
• Hot services are still hot.

“Successful CSPs are focusing on how they can turn the current economic malaise to their advantage,” said Martin Creaner, president and COO, TM Forum. “Playing it safe by just cutting costs will miss today’s and tomorrow’s opportunities. The winners will be the companies that combine fiscal caution with focused aggression along a strategic path.”

“Most services are growing in alignment with our earlier forecasts, but some are exceeding expectations,” added Tonia Graham, TM Forum Business Benchmarking program manager. “Strategies that include investment in growth services or expansion into high growth regions will be positioned to succeed as the economic climate turns positive.”

“Winning in a Shrinking World: Seizing the Opportunities” is the latest in a series of TM Forum Insights Business Intelligence reports, exclusively available to the Forum’s membership of more than 700 companies, addressing strategic Service Provider issues. TM Forum members can download the report now at http://www.tmforum.org/ResearchPublications/Summer2009Insights/7713/Home.html

To learn more about this Business Intelligence report, or to participate in the Business Benchmarking program, please contact Tonia Graham at [email protected] or visit www.tmforum.org/benchmarking.

Members of the press interested in obtaining a copy of the report should contact Geoff Devlin, PR director, TM Forum at [email protected].