Since 2006, TECHEXPO Company, EEBC Telecom & Broadcasting organizer, has held regular researches of telecom service operators and providers activity in the Ukrainian market, involving on average about 100 companies.

In 2006 the research was dedicated to the study of business communications and the specifics of marketing activity in the telecom market of Ukraine. In 2007 the subject-matter of the research was the content and forms of business activity of operator market entities. This year report has been elaborated on the specifics of buying activity in В2В segment of telecommunication market; operators’ demands for information, their perspective plans, vectors of technical and marketing development, positions and preferences in working with equipment suppliers.

The analysis has shown that in the last three years telecom market operators considered broadening of subscribers (customers) base and expansion into new markets as predominant strategic aims. However, the indisputable priority for the operators has always been building the new and expansion (modernization) of the existing networks. The operators came to understanding the advantages of introducing new integrated solutions and the importance of integrators’ role at the edge of 2006-2007.

Generally, in the last 2-3 years the survey participants have invested into the network development as a whole:

• $ 10 to 50 thousand into the networks with up to 1 000 subscribers
• $ 100 thousand to 1 million into the networks with up to 10 000 subscribers
• $ 10 to 50 million into the networks with up to 100 000 subscribers

A the fundamentals of new technology promotability, the operators first of all emphasized the simplicity of convergence and the simplicity of expansion: the more promotable are the technologies requiring no building of a vast overland infrastructure, but appearing on the ready consumer market (like, for instance, wireless and mobile applications). The main factors restraining the operators from introducing new technologies are increasing expenses on operating and expanding of the existing networks, unavailability of consumer market and inconformity of legislation to the demands of the new technology. However, in 2008 the situation concerning the lack of qualified experts changed (traditionally considered one of the main problems) – major operators started speaking about the importance of company reorganization and restructuring.

The most promotable telecom services in the last three years have been IPTV and mobile TV. Among the most profitable services mobile GSM voice communication and “traditional” mobile content were named. It should be noted that the acceptance of broadband Internet access has grown the fastest, as well as the services enabled by the broadband technology, digital TV, Triple Play and Quad Play. Nevertheless, the operators are still cautious of such novelties as mobile Internet and HDTV.

Concerning the objectives of the operators, the main for 2006 was outreach and promotion of new at that moment services, and in 2007 they started speaking about the need for increasing the profitability of these services and more efficient batching. The current year is marked by a rather tough anticompetition practice and promotion of the operator’s image.

Having analyzed the research results, the conclusion can be made that 2007 was the year of major network modernization and new technology implementation (purchasing new equipment), and the current stage is characterized by the growing number of constructions of new networks accompanied by anticompetition practice and active market redistribution.