Changes in the Vendor Landscape - 2005 to 2010

Changes over time tend to blend in into everyday work unless you really think about them. Just recently, I came across a list of network vendors I wrote down in 2005 to give readers examples of big wireless network infrastructure vendors. The list read:

• Siemens, Nortel, Ericsson, Alcatel and Nokia

Obviously the list is not exhaustive and not in a particular order. Powerhouses in 2005, no?

Now it's 2010 and four out of those five no longer exist in that form or shape. Today the list would read:

• Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent

Predictions for 2015, anyone?

Comments

[Insider]

What about Huawei, Ericsson and ZTE.

[Bogdan]

Hi Martin, thank you for the buzzling topic!

My line-up for 2015 is:

* Ericsson/Huawei, NSN, ZTE, Alcatel-Lucent

I personally see a tough battle for the first place between Ericsson and Huawei.

The main point is that with the very strong back-up by the Chinese Government, and given that the economy there will stay on the rise, we all should expect fierce battle for the leading positions and more players form China.

An unexpected scenario might be a hidden new player with alternative view compared to the tradionalist vendors.

And one more comment, based on the latest reports (1), Huawei is positioned second among the big wireless network infrastructure vendors in the end of 2009 line-up.

(Ref. [1] http://www.rethink-wireless.com/2009/11/16/huawei-narrowly-overtakes-nsn-mobile-infrastructure-sales.htm )

[Diogo Gomes]

I'm tempted to bet on a outsider:

Cisco, Ericsson, Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent

[Reda]

Good one! ;-)
how about Ericsson, Huawei (thanks to acquisitions such as Moto), NSN and Cisco...

[David Boettger]

In order:

1. Huawei
2. Ericsson, IF they can reduce their costs by about 50% per annum... forever
3. ZTE, if they manage to get their international act together

NSN and ALU fighting for scraps.

One other thought: If Huawei ultimately manages to drive Ericsson out of business, who's going to do the standards development work? Will E/// turn into an IPR house a la Qualcomm?