Telcos face a paradox: The connectivity they provide is more important than ever, to consumers and business alike. Yet key financial and customer satisfaction measures are low and getting lower, forcing telcos to make hard choices about where to play and how to win.

That challenge is made all the more difficult by several disruptive forces that will upend the traditional integrated telco model over the next decade. To respond effectively, companies will need to adapt their strategies and operating models. Maintaining the status quo will not be an option, and companies will face focused, built-for-purpose competitors in four distinct arenas: infrastructure, services, platforms, and vertical solutions.

Telcos will therefore need to unlearn the old ways and quickly adapt to this new reality. Pick your arena, or arenas, wisely, and understand that each has a very distinct set of rules that define success.