Operator retail strategies for stores, omnichannel and devices: key survey findings
Access this insight with a Premium plan. Contact our sales team to get started.
Report details
Operator retail strategies for stores, omnichannel and devices: key survey findings
Debates about the future of retail stores have been amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. This is true for all industries, not just telecoms. Consumers have come to expect omnichannel journeys; operators need to be aiming for these to attract and retain customers. While the shift in purchases to online channels will keep growing, telco retail operations will continue to maintain a core store presence to engage on a personal level, delivering enhanced experiences tailored to customer needs.
In October 2021, GSMA Intelligence surveyed 100 telecoms retail professionals from operators around the world to understand their views on the current and future shape of operator retail strategies. The goal was to better understand (and compare) how operators are evolving their retail strategies across a range of areas including retail stores, omnichannel practices, distribution, devices and sustainability. The accompanying dashboard provides all the relevant survey data, including data by region and operator size.
Report details
Operator retail strategies for stores, omnichannel and devices: key survey findings
Related research
Operators at MWC Barcelona 2026: strategies, innovation and messages shaping the industry
This report examines operators’ engagement at MWC Barcelona 2026, highlighting their announcements, innovations, strategy updates and messaging, in addition to examining implications for telecoms ecosystem players. We show our findings for 17 major operators across 12 areas of focus, including AI, 5G, B2B, B2C, cloud/edge and emerging tech such as APIs and non-terrestrial networks.
MWC Barcelona 2026: AI and sovereignty battle for dominance in a post-5G world
Around 105,000 people from 207 countries attended MWC Barcelona 2026. The show attracted more than 2,900 exhibitors, including telecoms operators, vendors and firms from across the broader technology ecosystem. This report examines the key announcements and innovations that took centre stage, what came as a surprise and what it all means for telecoms and the wider TMT industry.
On-device AI: mobile network filler or saviour?
On-device AI is the next frontier for AI deployments in consumer and enterprise segments. Use cases include AI-based search and personal assistants, image analytics on a smartphone, AI-assisted driving and navigation in cars, industrial applications such as automated guided vehicles, and improved IoT analytics. This has implications for the device world and major tech companies whose business models depend on consumer time on the internet and digital platforms. It also matters for operators, given the ripple effect of AI-driven data traffic on mobile and fibre networks, and the direct revenue opportunity.
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 subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Operators at MWC Barcelona 2026: strategies, innovation and messages shaping the industry
This report examines operators’ engagement at MWC Barcelona 2026, highlighting their announcements, innovations, strategy updates and messaging, in addition to examining implications for telecoms ecosystem players. We show our findings for 17 major operators across 12 areas of focus, including AI, 5G, B2B, B2C, cloud/edge and emerging tech such as APIs and non-terrestrial networks.
MWC Barcelona 2026: AI and sovereignty battle for dominance in a post-5G world
Around 105,000 people from 207 countries attended MWC Barcelona 2026. The show attracted more than 2,900 exhibitors, including telecoms operators, vendors and firms from across the broader technology ecosystem. This report examines the key announcements and innovations that took centre stage, what came as a surprise and what it all means for telecoms and the wider TMT industry.
On-device AI: mobile network filler or saviour?
On-device AI is the next frontier for AI deployments in consumer and enterprise segments. Use cases include AI-based search and personal assistants, image analytics on a smartphone, AI-assisted driving and navigation in cars, industrial applications such as automated guided vehicles, and improved IoT analytics. This has implications for the device world and major tech companies whose business models depend on consumer time on the internet and digital platforms. It also matters for operators, given the ripple effect of AI-driven data traffic on mobile and fibre networks, and the direct revenue opportunity.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics
