The future of communication in 2015

Introduction

This page will contain the results of the scenario planning process of group 5 of class RSM EMBA05 on the following subject:

The future of communication in 2020

The idea behind this proposed scenario originates from the intensifying battle unfolding in The Netherlands between the incumbent telephony provider, KPN and the cable operator, UPC. Both companies enjoy a monopoly in their core product offerings – that is to say telephony, in the case of KPN and TV/Video, in the case of UPC – and were originally content to restrict their efforts solely to such offerings. Gradually, however, rapid technological advancements enabled both companies to compete across multiple products - TV/Video, the Internet and telephony (fixed and mobile). A recent development was UPC’s attack on KPN’s fixed line telephony business through VoIP (voice over IP). This was the first step in the rapid convergence of all technologies to the IP network. KPN have responded through an attack on UPC’s core product by investing heavily in TV/Video over the Internet (IPTV). How will the battle between the companies now develop?

The key to being able to answer this question is the drawing of a considered conclusion on how the communications industry – and in this we include the entertainment business also - will develop over the medium term – say the next 10 years.

Research questions

Note to group: please add your research questions below.