TMNG Global Helps a Wireless Company Emerge as a Top Tier Full-Service Provider Post Deregulation

Challenge

Our client, a dominant cellular service provider in a Caribbean island nation, wanted to lead the process of liberalization as telecommunications’ regulations were changing in that region. The company needed to understand how well it was positioned to compete with the incumbent wireline provider in terms of capabilities and products. The client was aware that its lobbying efforts could precipitate a mandate from the Government that the company become a full-service provider immediately. To that end, the client also needed to anticipate the increased level of activity and necessary capital expenditures. TMNG Global was commissioned to spearhead the analysis process to determine the viability of the client becoming a market leader within an imminent de-regulated environment.

TMNG Global Solution

TMNG Global leveraged its knowledge of the island’s telecommunications environment and of telecommunications globally to assess the impact of change in a deregulated environment. Our team devised three distinct phases to approach this engagement. Phase 1 focused on performing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the client’s current position as a telecom provider in the face of impending liberalization/deregulation. The SWOT analysis allowed us to delve into the client’s current products and potential offerings that could be utilized within the present network infrastructure.

Phase 2 relied on the analysis conducted in the previous phase which was used in a presentation for the Board of Directors. TMNG’s Phase 2 deliverable analyzed types of competition—monopoly, duopoly, oligopoly, and laissez-faire—and discussed them in pro and con terms from the point of view of the client company. The deliverable also reviewed case studies of both deregulation failures and success stories in other markets and countries, as relevant to the client’s situation. The goal was to help the Board understand the process of deregulation and to recommend a course of action in which the company could engage to accelerate the pace of deregulation.

In addition to the Board of Directors, the Government of the Caribbean island also received the report. The report recommended that the Government’s first step should be to liberalize the Internet. The client company was well positioned to take advantage of that medium if liberalized.

In Phase 3, TMNG used its knowledge of alternative, emerging broadband and voice technologies to provide network diagrams, high-level cost estimates, and high-level project plans for either immediate or phased approaches to deployment. Technologies covered included 802.11, LMDS, and MMDS.

Efforts from each preceding phase were leveraged to create a reference network architecture that could support the entire spectrum of telecommunications services in the island nation, should the Government liberalize all services immediately.

Benefits to the Client

TMNG Global delivered an analysis and recommendations encompassing Marketing, Regulatory, Sales, OSS, and Operations. The market assessments produced for the client allowed for the key stakeholders, the client’s Board of Directors as well as the island’s Government, to gain a clear understanding the total communications environment.

With buy-in from stakeholders and a clear roadmap to success, the client was well equipped to enter into the newly deregulated space as a full-service communications provider. Following TMNG Global’s engagement, the client immediately deployed a voice and data network and has since deployed other products and capabilities, such as GSM global roaming and a multimedia-messaging service (MMS)