GlobalData estimates the UK market of 5.5 million registered private sector businesses, alongside the public and third sectors, creates a B2B communications market(UK Telecoms) worth about £10 billion a year.
In a UK telecoms market challengers report, the wide range of providers highlighted across the value chain (covering networks to managed services) signifies a dynamic and highly competitive market when selling to businesses, finds analysis by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Robert Pritchard, Principal Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “It is remarkable how much competition there is: from laying fiber in the ground to selling communications solutions to enterprise customers, both directly and through the channel. This gives rise to what is probably the most competitive national B2B market in Europe, if not the world.”
GlobalData estimates the UK market of 5.5 million registered private sector businesses, alongside the public and third sectors, creates a B2B communications market(UK telecoms market) worth about £10 billion a year.
Pritchard observes: “The likes of are the most familiar names in this market. But its structure is far more fragmented and expansive – for example, there are about 150 companies rolling out fiber, and the number of resellers and agents is thought to amount to 10,000 companies. Within such a wide range of enterprises, there are plenty of options to meet individual businesses’ needs and drivers, be they price, enhanced customer service, or delivering operational efficiency, to name a few.”
GlobalData’s analysis found that there is also a once-in-a-generation opportunity as the UK looks to switch off the PSTN in December 2025 – meaning that all companies will be using digital voice alongside other digital services – whether they like it or not. The churn effect is already having an impact and all service providers are looking to capitalize on this technology revolution in the UK telecoms biz.
Pritchard concludes: “With technology and communications at the heart of every company and organization, the UK benefits from a very wide choice of suppliers at every level and across most geographies. Consolidation between service providers and fragmentation of business models will continue to disrupt the market, but this is a small price to pay for the abundant choices available.”
