Convergence through whatever means necessary

Download the Report

Complete the form below to get instant access to this report. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.

Opt-in for Marketing Communications:
To ensure you stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the mobile industry, GSMA Intelligence would like to send you information about events, products, services, and initiatives, as well as industry news. Please subscribe by ticking this box; once subscribed, you can tailor what you receive from us at any time, or unsubscribe, should you wish.

This Report is locked

Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.

Learn more about our packages

GSMA Intelligence is today publishing a report on industry convergence. Convergence to date has been driven by two factors: technology and regulation. All-IP networks have blurred the lines between networks, as well as improving quality of service. Consumer expectations of higher quality services with seamless mobility and access to data and content have increased concurrently.

While technology continues to rapidly evolve, regulation has lagged. In particular, regulators continue to place greater emphasis on specific market segments rather than viewing the technology, media and telecoms market holistically, with the greatest scrutiny on proposed transactions which would increase concentration within a particular segment of the market. This has encouraged horizontal consolidation as operators search for greater economies of scale.

For integrated operators in particular, defensiveness has been the key driver of convergence to date. Virtually all report significant improvements in churn or customer lifetimes. A converged operator’s greater scale also gives it increased negotiating leverage with advertisers, content providers, and other ecosystem partners. These savings can be at least partially passed on to consumers, increasing competitiveness and defending otherwise at-risk customers and revenue. It is important, however, that operators design and price their convergence offerings around consumer needs and desires, rather than competing on price alone, and ensure that any scale benefits passed on to consumers do not unnecessarily erode value creation.

Authors

How to access this report

Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.

Enquire about subscription

Contact our research team

Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.

Contact our research team

Media

To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.

Learn more

Related research

5G Next: optimising energy in the age of network complexity via integrated dashboards

Mobile networks and connectivity
Climate, ESG and sustainability
Mobile Operators and Networks

This Insight Spotlight is part of our 5G Next series, which helps clarify the next phase of 5G and highlights key technological innovations. Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly critical as it directly affects operational costs, while the integration of new network layers can contribute to rising energy consumption. Reducing operational complexity, unlocking actionable insights and transforming billing will be foundational to achieve efficiency, sustainability goals and long-term network resilience in the 5G era and beyond.

This report is locked

5G in Context, Q2 2025

Mobile networks and connectivity
Mobile Operators and Networks

This quarterly review of global 5G developments provides a concise, tracker-style deliverable, presenting key metrics and forecasts in an easy-to-access and engaging way. GSMA Intelligence has aggregated the latest data on 5G connections and adoption, as well as information on network trials/launches and spectrum assignments.

This report is locked

Mobile Data Deck, Q2 2025

Mobile networks and connectivity
Mobile Operators and Networks

The GSMA Intelligence Mobile Data Deck offers a fast track to all the essential data you need to know, with key mobile metrics in one easy-to-use deck of charts. The forecasts to 2030 include connections by region and technology generation, smartphone connections and adoption, and mobile operator revenue.

This report is locked
Full access
Get full access to our research now, get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis
  • 200 reports a year
  • 50 million data points
  • Over 350 metrics