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Telcos are struggling between holding on to their old revenues while preparing themselves for a rapidly changing market place. After years of cost cutting the first telcos start to invest again, Australia is however, lagging behind. Key issues for the players are the decline in voice revenue and the emergence of VoIP. Also trying to move into media markets such as broadband TV and far more sophisticated delivery models (triple play) are providing the industry with plenty of challenge. In all of this the competition remains struggling, they might increase retail market share but not margins.The market moving forwards into 2006 New telco business models for 2006 Structural Industry changes for 2006 Convergence - Massive media changes From telecom to media monopoly The Future of Voice (Fixed, Mobile, VoIP) Market Developments and International Benchmarking Operational Separation Regulations - T3 reforms AAPT, Commander, Hutchison, iiNet, Unwired and Vodafone - Company Analyses Optus - Company Analysis 2005 Telstra - Company Analysis 2005Executive SummaryAustralia has never been a leader in new telecoms developments, it is a follower. It therefore is good to look abroad and thus predict what we can expect to happen in Australia over the next 12 months. Key developments involve triple play business models. VoIP will be the key element in such packages, but it is broadband TV that makes the product sticky. Wireless broadband offers new opportunities there were mobile data failed as well as in niche markets in competition with DSL.The convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting, IT and consumer electronic markets are offering unprecedented opportunities for those organisations who understand these developments and are able to analyse what will work for them. However, it is obvious that these new opportunities require new business models. Media convergence driven by technology will cause problems for companies who have a vested interest in maintaining their own ‘old’ structure. The lack of change towards new business models is one of the major stumble blocks in the developments of a new economic viable market structure, which are needed to move the industry into 2006.In order for the industry to move into 2006, some serious structural changes need to be made to align their current businesses towards the challenges of media convergence. Furthermore there are the cannibalisation effects of VoIP and on top that the access models are changing, which triple emerging as the model forward. The industry will have to align itself along one of the three key structures: infrastructure, content and appliances.The media market is on the verge of massive changes. Several developments are taking place at once, driven by technologies. Broadband-based infrastructure is going to make the need for separate telecoms and broadband infrastructure obsolete. The consumer electronics market is pushing for changes driven by plasma screens and DVRs; thus increasing market demand for more and better entertainment services. There will be casualties, especially among traditional broadcasters, and new leaders will emerge on the telco side of the business.The broadcasting market is much weaker and is already in self-destruct mode, so it won’t be too difficult for Telstra to dominate this market by providing the new entertainment services over its variety of broadband infrastructures. Developments, which started in late 2004, are pointing further into the direction of media monopolies. All eyes are now on the government’s media review in 2005.In a different review the Minister put forward her plans for a regulatory overhaul of the telecoms market, prior to the further privatisation of Telstra. These plans contain some good elements – strategies that will promote progress. However, we have seen many sound plans in the past, and the devil is, as always, in the detail. Only when an enforceable implementation plan is generated, with measurable outcomes, will we see any real progress. Without this it will be just another whitewash, leaving us even further back on the information highway. However, the debate inevitably comes back to structural changes.Company analyses are provided on: Telstra, Optus, AAPT, Vodafone, Commander, Hutchison, Unwired, Primus, Macquarie Telecom, PowerTel, SP Telemedia, iiNet and People Telecom.
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