The tectonic plates of high technology and the telecommunications industry are in constant motion. After the years of Internet hype and the bursting of that bubble, significant value shifts are taking place once more. "Convergence" and "Web 2.0" are just two of the movements currently reshaping the industry.

“Business as usual” has three primary characteristics:

• Disruptions and Uncertainty
  The decline in the voice business of fixed-line carriers is perhaps the best evidence of this trend, which will eventually affect wireless operators too. Apple Computer"s redefinition of the music download business also fits the bill.
  
  
• Clock Speed and Innovation
  Corporations must act quicker than ever to stay ahead of changes in technology, the market place, and consumer behavior. Google, for example, has entered markets far afield from paid search, while leading mobile handset makers are constantly introducing new products in order to keep ahead of their competitors.
  
  
• Shifts in Value Creation
  Such shifts are occurring both geographically, as new competitors from China and India enter the global playing field, and thematically, as the content and aggregation levels become the control points in the telecom industry

To thrive in this environment, successful high-tech and telecommunications companies need to excel in three ways. They need the right strategy, they must possess organizational agility in order to respond quickly to the changing needs of customers and the market, and they must demonstrate operational excellence in customer-facing and internal functions. BCG has been helping clients take full advantage of their next-generation networks.

BCG's Technology and Communications practice supports companies in the telecommunications, high-tech, software, and electronics industries as they strive to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in this dynamic environment. We work closely with our clients to recognize the forces transforming their markets, define tailored responses to these changes, and implement these responses rapidly and effectively.