According to global trends, traditional Communications Service Providers (CSPs) business is not growing – expecting almost flat +0,1% global connectivity year over year revenues 2021-2024. It has become clear that a major shift to B2B is upon us.

This, in turn, raises many challenges for CSPs, starting with how they can differentiate themselves from the cloud giants. To do so, they will have to transform their DNA - upgrading their B2C-grounded skills, operating models and technologies. But, if they choose to embark on this journey, is it present an ecosystem fostering partnership to develop their capabilities.

There are two potential directions when expanding the Telco B2B Portfolio:

In the space defined by these two dimensions, there’s an area where CSPs have a real opportunity to differentiate. This is the area at the intersection of two specific Telco control points:

A mandatory evolution for CPSs begins with the Connectivity Platform – enriching the standard connectivity leveraging new network and infrastructure technologies. Then, CSPs can move on to Connected-Cloud Platform business bundling – enhancing connectivity services with software functionalities at the edge. The final step is to become the Connected Cloud Industry Orchestrator. Here, CSPs leverage their edge functionalities and connectivity to build vertically integrated industry solutions.

5G holds great promise for CSPs once they complete the technology transition. But to make the most of the opportunity, CSPs need to look beyond standard business models for new paths to growth. Watch and listen in to Accenture leadership in this 4-minute discussion on reimagining your B2B strategy.

CSPs’ evolution process is a complete, multi-year transformation encompassing a CSP’s entire organization and ecosystem. Importantly, it’s a journey that requires both a bottom-up and top-down approach.

A bottom-up approach is necessary for CSPs to standardize and automate their connectivity and computing capabilities. In the top-down stage of the transformation, CSPs focus on the industry supply chain platform, which standardizes and automates the industry use cases fabric through:

CSPs can distinguish themselves from cloud giants, primarily if they focus on segments, use cases requiring complex and mission-critical “Connectivity + Cloud” QoS, and power local end-to-end operations.

It is also possible for CSPs to become ecosystem-driven and form meaningful alliances with a bottom-up model to onboard and expose internal and third parties’ capabilities. Plus, enabling a top-down approach to cooperate with business integrators and vertical industry partners.

CSPs can transform their “B2C connectivity culture” and grow in skills, operating models, processes, and technology through a clearly defined strategy. They must build a new platform, not only in terms of technology capabilities but also as enablers of new ways to co-create and innovate at scale.

This roadmap can be a starting point for a structured B2B transformation approach. Still, each CSP should consider the right way to tackle any new opportunity based on their unique capabilities and ecosystem perspective.