PMP Strategy aims to contribute their expertise and insights to the broader telecom community while also gaining valuable knowledge from the best practices and experiences shared by industry leaders in the region. Read this exclusive article gathering insights on the firm’s leadership team.
PMP Strategy’s Branding
PMP Strategy’s branding emphasizes ‘positive impact', reflecting a comprehensive approach to influencing results. Beyond enhancing business economics, our focus provides a holistic perspective, encompassing positive impact on employees, customers, communities, and the environment, supporting shareholders and public policy.
“Firmly entrenched in PMP Strategy’s DNA is focusing on projects which will be transformational for our clients, and also result in sustainable financial impact for their organizations,” said Gilles Vaqué, Founding Partner and Managing Director.
In the last few years, particular emphasis has been placed on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) impact. PMP has invested considerable effort in ensuring that strategy considers these impacts.
Digital Technology Transforming PMP Strategy’s Clients
With PMP Strategy's expertise on TMT, the impact of digital technology on our clients is profound. Digital transformation is evident across various dimensions. As our clients' businesses evolve, there is an increasing focus on digital transformation, influencing various aspects such as sales processes, customer interactions, and network management. This emphasis on digitization is leading to enhanced efficiency across these domains. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are creating new opportunities in the ICT sector. With movement to the cloud (and with the increased deployment of fiber, satellite, and fixed wireless infrastructure), opportunities for digitalization have increased.
In response to the demands of our clients, digital technology is intricately intertwined with overall business strategy in the telecom sector. The trend towards the digitalization of every aspect of a telecom operator's operations is unmistakable: encompassing network management, customer interaction, CRM, database management, and customer value management. Opportunities for transformation and expansion persist, with AI poised to play a more active role as networks mature. The transformative impact extends to customer experience, device interaction, capacity management, and emerging architectures that enhance asset and customer management.
Moreover, technology serves as a catalyst for development across industries, disrupting traditional paradigms and requiring strategic responses. The challenges are particularly pronounced in countries experiencing robust development, unburdened by legacy systems. The telco-tech sector, representing 50% of our activity, is pivotal in leveraging technology to transform economies, develop industries, and influence global ambitions across continents; including the GCC countries, Asia, Africa, and Western countries. The emphasis is on active, dynamic engagement, recognizing the key role technology plays in shaping the future.
“Digital technology is a huge opportunity for the GCC countries, because we are dynamically leveraging it across multiple industries to generate value and are less burdened by legacy transformation. We have an edge compared to other countries that are mired in the efforts it takes to transform industries,” added Zakaria Chouaib, Managing Director of the Africa and Middle East (AME) Zone.
Telco and Tech: Sustainable Industry Enablers
Value creation is paramount for sustainable performance in the telecom, media, and technology industry. Continual efforts to enhance people, processes, and systems, along with targeting new markets, are crucial for staying competitive. A dynamic value creation plan that addresses all aspects of a business is essential, emphasizing continuous improvement.
The industry is witnessing an acceleration of investment in digital infrastructure, particularly in mobile and fiberization of markets. Cloud adoption is increasing, resulting in a demand surge for data centers both in core and secondary markets. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is influencing various business aspects, from operations to customer service and network management; driving an accelerated trend towards digitalization.
In the Middle East, the landscape is diverse, with most countries exhibiting remarkable strength and undergoing significant changes and investments. Digital infrastructure remains a focal point, with some markets requiring substantial investments, making the region heterogeneous in its characteristics.
“Telco and tech are enablers of all industries. Therefore, their role is absolutely critical in value creation. The carefully planned foundation investments being made in the GCC countries will help to ensure that value creation is sustainable as the entire region grows,” commented Ken Campbell, Partner of TMT Strategy Practice in UK and Canada.
Addressing the global need for decarbonization is also crucial. As an enabler for all industries, telco has an integral role in societal and environmental sustainability. Though it accounts for only 2-3% of carbon impact, we must also prioritize energy-efficient technology.
Growth Areas of Telecom Operators With New Digital Services
The landscape for telecom operators is evolving rapidly, marked by the ascent of the digital operator as the new standard. As the telecom industry matures, the approach to selling, activating, and managing customer experiences undergoes a profound shift. Today's telecom customers can navigate their entire journey through a digital operator, eliminating the need for physical touchpoints. They can place orders online, activate eSIMs instantly, engage with chatbots for service, and, in rare cases, seek assistance in physical stores. This transformation not only reduces the cost of selling and servicing but also empowers consumers, accelerating the potential for churn.
In response, telecom operators are exploring innovative strategies to build customer loyalty. Some operators, exemplified by TELUS in Canada, are leveraging repair networks as unique touchpoints to upsell, cross-sell, and acquire new customers. In mature markets, operators are delving into financing devices and fostering relationships through insurance and other products, thereby encouraging a sense of loyalty. Residual value in handsets and standard loyalty programs, with benefits and points, are foundational, and so is the essential requirement of providing a robust network with quality coverage, reliability, and speed – aspects that consumers now consider as immediate expectations.
Delving deeper into the potential growth areas for telecom operators with new digital services, several facets come to the forefront. Slicing technology emerges as a game-changer, offering operators increased efficiency and the ability to engage in open-network draw capture, thereby enhancing overall effectiveness. Beyond being traditional service providers, telecom operators find untapped potential in diverse vertical industries such as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, banking, culture, financial services, energy, and transportation. This transformative role positions them not merely as providers of communication infrastructure but as enablers of technologies for clients; opening significant avenues for business development. Moreover, the sheer scale of customer bases and enterprise relationships held by telecom operators presents opportunities for diversification and growth. AI, cybersecurity and the Cloud are additional domains where telecom operators can make substantial contributions, further amplifying their potential for growth in the digital services landscape.
“The new frontier for telecom operators lies in their ability to transcend traditional roles, embracing digital transformation, and exploring diverse verticals. By capitalizing on technological advancements, fostering innovative strategies for customer engagement and loyalty, and venturing into multifaceted business development opportunities, telecom operators stand poised for robust growth in the dynamic landscape of new digital services,” noted Firas Mhedhebi, Managing Director.
Knowledge Partner in the 17th Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit
The Telecom Review Leaders' Summit stands as a pivotal event, and PMP Strategy’s role as a Knowledge Partner underscores their commitment to advancing the industry through collaboration and shared expertise.
“Being Knowledge Partner of the Telecom Review Leader’s Summit is vital to PMP Strategy as we strengthen our presence in the region. It’s an excellent forum to share ideas, discuss new trends and learn from each other to find solutions to the challenges we are facing in this industry. We look forward to learning from everyone here, while we share our expertise gained from 20 years of international Telco experience,” expressed Housni Zniber, Managing Director, AME.
