CCS predicts India consolidation to 4 MNOs
June 27, 2017
Global analyst firm CCS Insight announced the launch of its new report focused on the development of the Indian telecoms industry: India — Halcyon Days Ahead in a Four-Operator Market.
The report highlights the history, dynamism and consolidation of the Indian telecoms market, revealing that:
- A total of 68 per cent of leading sampled telecoms executives predict that India will consolidate to a four-operator market;
- Just over half of respondents think that Vodafone will still be operational in India in five years’ time;
- Overall market consolidation will be a positive outcome for network operators, consumers and manufacturers of infrastructure and handsets.
India’s population of more than 1.25 billion people represents an enormous market for mobile communications. It has attracted billions of dollars of investment from domestic and international companies over the past 20 years and, with the consolidation process in India now moving at a rapid pace, it has the potential to bring an end to two decades of market chaos.
The report is written by CCS Insight’s Senior Adviser, Tony Worthington (former Global Head of Telecoms, Media and Technology at Standard Chartered Bank), who has been involved in the Indian telecoms industry for over 20 years.
Worthington commented that “the consolidation process in India is now well underway, and the key uncertainty seems to be whether the Ambani brothers — one of whom owns Reliance Communications, and one of whom owns Jio — will be able to live with a merger between the two companies. Most of the survey sample seems to think that, ultimately, they would”.
CCS Insight CEO Shaun Collins added, “This report provides some interesting thoughts for consumers, handset providers and mobile operators in India. Consolidation is a reality for telecoms operators across the globe and there is a history of instability in the Indian market, so we are excited to see the growth and evolution of this sector. CCS Insight looks forward to working with its valued clients in considering the future implications of market consolidation fuelled by the mergers of Vodafone and Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications and Aircel and by the ambitions of Jio.”