Towards Tomorrows Feb 2017 | Page 3

EDITORIAL

What does 2017 hold for the global telecom space ? Quite a bit , if one considers the mad scramble that ensued in end-2016 . I , obviously , refer to the time-honoured practice of every analyst worth their salt rushing to put forward their two cents . But , here ’ s the catch-how does one make sense of the clutter ? To believe or not believe , that is the question !
Permit me to put in my ( very humble ) two cents . Personally , I am of the firm opinion that one cannot really go wrong by choosing to abide with the GSMA Intelligence ’ s views on anything mobile . So , keeping in line with this time-honoured practice , here ’ s a brief snapshot of what may come to pass in telecom this year :
The Advent of the Platform Economy : Messaging applications were just the beginning . The platform economy will use smartphones , softwares and open application programming interfaces ( APIs ) to create and scale new digital marketplaces for a huge range of services and products .
The Rise and Rise of Messaging Platforms : The IP messaging application customer base will continue on an upswing this year . The global user base is already approaching the 3 billion mark . Growth will continue with the proliferation of low-cost smartphones .
Are Cars poised to be the new Smartphones ? Value in automotive is shifting to software and services . Cars are emerging as new platforms to offer a variety of content and services , ranging from infotainment to telematics . These trends may accelerate with the rise of electric vehicles , which may prove a catalyst for further disruption of the automotive sector . Up to two thirds of new cars sold by 2025 are expected to be connected ( built-in or smartphone-based ).
It doesn ’ t end here , of course . GSMA has , as expected , a lot more to say on the subject . For now , though , a brief snapshot ought to be enough . After all , given the ups and downs the sector goes through , it should come as no surprise if a major twist occurs at some point down the line ( year ).
You heard it first here , though !
MONISHA SAHU
Senior Group Manager Corporate Marketing
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