Press release: Telcos invested US$8 billion in cloud in first half of 2011, but generated pennies in cloud services
Rush to own physical assets: 8 out 10 investments involve data centers
Communication service providers (CSPs) committed almost US$8 billion to cloud-related pursuits in the first six months of 2011, but recent acquisitions won’t boost cloud revenues overnight and service differentiation remains poor, according to Informa Telecoms & Media’s Telecom Cloud Monitor, a new analytical tool evaluating CSPs’ cloud strategies. The tool tracks the cloud-related activities of 90 CSP groups worldwide, including their interactions with more than 240 cloud-related equipment, software and services vendors.
Informa estimates that the typical CSP generates less than 5% of its enterprise revenues from annuity cloud services. Despite growing customer wins, some CSPs need to muster 10-fold growth to hit publicized cloud revenue targets. Of the 10 acquisitions and 21 investments announced in the first half of 2011, 80% involved data centers, highlighting CSPs’ desire to bulk up on physical assets to sell virtual goods.
“Recent multiples paid for so-called cloud assets aren’t at Enron Era levels, but they are generous,” said Camille Mendler, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media. “More worryingly, the companies acquired – although growing – generate a sixth or less of their revenues from pure cloud services.”
On current performance, Informa concludes that many CSPs are swapping their dumb-pipe problem for a dumb cloud: 70% of the 88 cloud services launched in the first half of 2011 were generic productivity and storage applications, often involving partners claiming a major share of the takings.
“Software as a service is a loss leader for most CSPs: Partners like Google, Microsoft and Salesforce offer great tools, but they want their pound of flesh,” said Mendler. “Profitable differentiation lies in securing seamless access to enterprises’ digital assets, not just SaaS resale.”
Informa warns CSPs not to squander their powerful differentiators in the cloud marketplace. They must:
• Create high-value community clouds to serve the needs of specific vertical industries
• Secure cloud access via any device in audited compliance with local laws
• Mobilize the cloud to transform business processes encompassing people and embedded devices
About the Telecom Cloud Monitor
The Telecom Cloud Monitor is an analytical tool from Informa Telecoms & Media’s Enterprise Verticals practice. The tool tracks and evaluates the global cloud-related activities of 90 communication service provider groups worldwide, including investments, customer wins, service launches and partnerships with more than 240 cloud-related equipment, software and services vendors since 2005.
About Informa Telecoms & Media
Informa Telecoms & Media is the leading provider of business intelligence and strategic services to the global telecoms and media markets. Our aim is to provide actionable, strategic advice and forecasting on all aspects of the music, mobile and fixed, entertainment markets.
© Informa UK Ltd 2011. All rights reserved.
Press Contact
Denise Duffy
PR Manager
denise.duffy@informa.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7500 3308 26
I can help you:
- Obtain a comment
- Source content, data and charts
- Arrange a briefing
[...] least according to a recent press release from Informa. Based on Informa’s research, cloud revenues generated by communications service providers (CSPs) are running at 5% of total [...]
[...] Telcos have to differentiate in their cloud approach to succeed var addthis_product = 'wpp-261'; var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};“Should telcos rethink their Cloud strategies?” That is the question that Informa principle analyst Camille Mendler asks in an interview aired on TelecomTV on 5 August 2011 (referring to a recently published Informa report from their Telecom Cloud Monitor, see here). [...]