Leanhacking in Telecom: How Can Carriers Move Faster?
There are more reports showing en-masse partnerships with OTT providers that show significant revenue potential with billions of dollars annually in some markets. The opportunity is significant, yet, many operators remain hesitant (understandably so).
Stakeholders are hesitant over the right platforms and the IT investments required. The uncertainty in assumptions behind the business case, further increases the complexity of an already complex IT ecosystem. Let’s not forget the failed examples of carriers who got the formula wrong.
But the opportunity is there. The trend isn’t subsiding as 90% of operators still recognize the need to partner with the OTT community.
Where Do Operators Need to Start?
My guidance to our carrier customers is to simplify wherever possible. Take the time today to learn the right model on a small (and more hands-on) scale and use that to inform platform investments on a 24 to 48-month timeline. You’ll be on-track with market timing and possess the learnings that will make your organization far likelier to succeed. Early investments like these can range from $10's to $100's of thousands of dollars, depending on the challenge presented; not millions or $10’s of millions as required by a solution at scale.
Techniques for Being Lean Within Telecom Carriers
My colleagues have written at length around early product validation and applying those principles in the enterprise. Here are some of the techniques that have helped us validate product and OTT partnership concepts for our customers early-on, within the network operators segments.