According to World Telecom Labs (WTL) there have been a number of recurrent themes among emerging market operators across the last year.
- Continuing pressure on controlling OpEx: At WTL we are seeing great interest in our VoIP bandwidth optimisation products as all types of operators scrutinise every area of expenditure. Monthly bandwidth bills have been overlooked in the past or seen as untouchable. I have noticed even the larger operators wanting to talk about optimisation / compression and I believe this will grow through 2013.
- Fraud / credit defaults: Most operators have stories of attempted fraud and bad debts. In these times of lower margins, one bad fraud incident can take a company down. Highly secure equipment and watertight, real-time Pre-Paid solutions are increasingly being requested.
- Access-for-all: In 2012 there has been much talk about communication as a driver of economic & social development. We are involved in 3 or 4 rural voice & data projects which, if funded, will help to prove this. The key is wise use of the Universal Access Funds held by governments.
