North American Managed Services: Telecommunications' Future

Summary

The growth in network complexity, driven by a need for more cost-effective integrated voice and data services, rapidly changing technology and a tight labor market capable of supporting next-generation networks, is forcing businesses of all sizes worldwide, and particularly in North America (United States and Canada), to consider managed public networking solutions. Data products offering only part of a comprehensive solution have been around for years, but the advent of MPLS/IP VPNs and ASPs/MSPs have focused a bright light on approaches that offer end-to-end public network solutions. The future is clear -- carrier-managed network services will extend down through the LAN to the CPE and even the desktop computer. Despite the large growth rates for managed solutions, the market is expected to remain healthy for a wide portfolio of network solutions over the next five years. Gartner Dataquest analyzes managed public network services features, value proposition and service trends driving the rapid growth of these managed services in North America.