Telecommunications

Marking a major milestone, Cingular Wireless announced at CTIA Wireless 2005 that it now has 50 million customers.

The global telecommunications industry showed modest growth in 2004, and the growth of its revenue is expected to continue into 2005, says a new market analysis report from Insight Research. According to the study, worldwide telecommunications services revenue is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 5.9 percent from 2005 to 2010, which reflects the level of sustainable growth enjoyed by the telecom segment prior to the technology bubble of the late 1990s.

Today’s business telecom marketplace is more competitive than ever. Major providers, both fixed-line and wireless, are merging, cable operators are attempting to increase their reach into the business market and systems integrators are targeting the budding managed-services market. As such, survival in this industry will hinge on products, prices and preference, and not necessarily in that order.

In a move to make its Cricket wireless service even more customer friendly and affordable, Leap Wireless International, Inc. announced that it is expanding its international long distance (ILD) offering to more than 60 countries.

2004 Digital Hollywood conference devoted much of its focus to leveraging broadband for the entertainment industry.

The entertainment industry is evaluating and developing business models to gain revenue from broadband content. Broadband content is becoming a necessary brand extension for Hollywood, as companies realize broadband not only is a formidable delivery avenue for ancillary revenue streams, but may have a revolutionary effect on the entire entertainment industry.

The Mexican communications market is the most influential market in Latin America. The latest report from Pyramid Research, “Communications Markets in Mexico,” forecasts a 6% annual growth for fixed, mobile, pay TV and Internet service revenues in Mexico with the trend continuing through 2009.