The long-anticipated tipping point in telecoms may finally be here. As European mobile operators collaborate with OTT services to lure customers into switching providers, AT&T in the U.S. is competing directly with OTTs like Netflix and Hulu by bulking up in a downstream acquisition of Time Warner. Compared with AT&T, Time Warner properties CNN and HBO bring significant digital expertise to the table. Meanwhile, in Europe, no brand stands out as a well-rounded innovator, reflecting a herd mentality toward digital. European mobile operators must establish strong digital fundamentals as they enter a new era of competition if they want to break away from the pack.