Most B2B telcos are facing revenue declines that range from 1% to 7% each year. Maikel Wilms explains how telcos that better leverage the technology ecosystem available to them might escape this sinister spiral—but a substantial transformation is critical.

Maikel Wilms has been with The Boston Consulting Group since 1998. He is a core member of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice.

Maikel has worked extensively with leading telcos for more than 15 years on multiple projects, with a focus on network strategy and roll-out and on B2B commercial strategies. These projects include technology selection for a fixed broadband roll-out, growing ICT businesses, 4G roll-out strategies, and B2B channel optimization.

Maikel has coauthored many BCG publications on telcos and their role in the digital economy.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • MBA, cum laude, Nyenrode Business University
  • MSc, chemistry and management sciences, cum laude (both), University of Amsterdam

Publications and Videos

Say Goodbye to Copper Telecom Networks

Say Goodbye to Copper Telecom Networks

In an age of always-on connectivity, copper is giving way to fiber. Companies must forge a phaseout strategy that maintains their customer base and growth prospects.
How Europe’s Telcos Can Help Build a Vibrant Digital Economy Rectangle

How Europe’s Telcos Can Help Build a Vibrant Digital Economy

Innovation requires a new paradigm rooted in European cooperation, not in regulation that struggles to keep pace with the evolving marketplace.
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A $2 Trillion Plan to Bring Two Billion More People into the Digital Age

Making high-speed internet access available to those who lack it—in both developing and developed nations—is a critical task for the global community.
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Telecoms Tackle COVID-19: Keeping the World Connected

With the rapid spread of coronavirus effectively cutting off face-to-face interactions in an abrupt and uncharted fashion, reliable telecommunications connectivity suddenly took center stage.
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Time for action: In times of COVID-19 Telcos need to move rapidly to be part of the solution

Telcos play a unique role in building and sustaining connections in a functioning society. Protecting this capability must be their top priority.
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The Multitrillion-Dollar Social Impact Opportunity for Telcos

Telcos can capitalize on broadening societal expectations to build new sources of revenue and business.
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Unlocking and Building Value in Telecom

Operators have struggled to break free from the familiar constraints of regulation, legacy, and often-unfavorable competitive dynamics. Rather than bleed outdated business models dry, the future demands that they be bolder in strategy and execution.

The profound change required to enable B2B Telco growth

B2B Telcos are facing strong headwinds to drive growth and differentiation in an increasingly commoditized and competitive market. Several trends represent both threat and opportunity for Telcos to grow in B2B: Changing customer needs, fast evolving technologies, new types of competitors, internal road blockers. Furthermore, entrenched complexity in products, systems and processes need to evolve to radical simplification, shifting to adjacent and new revenue streams and investing in Digitization. The opportunities for growth are strong for Telcos willing to embrace disruption and invest in new technology.

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A Playbook for Accelerating 5G in Europe

Rising mobile traffic demand is straining 4G networks to the limit. Europe needs to stimulate deployment of 5G to reap the benefits of digitization.
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The Economic Case for Bringing Broadband to the Rural US

Roughly 23 million Americans lack high-speed internet service. Using a mix of technologies, operators could connect them for far less than the cost of any individual technology—increasing access to education and health care and boosting economic growth into in the bargain.
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To Fuel Growth, Telcos Need a Digital Makeover

To thrive in the B2B space, telcos must balance two things: committing to digital transformation and managing the still-sizable connectivity market.
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10 Princípios para o Desenho do Novo Modelo Regulatório de Telecomunicações

Inevitavelmente, e urgentemente, ajustes precisarão ocorrer, já que a delicada situação econômica da indústria de Telecomunicações hoje no Brasil e o desbalanceamento na divisão do valor que esta indústria gera não permitem mais protelar as mudanças.
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