Verizon will acquire Straight Path Communications for $3.1 billion, beating out AT&T’s initial offer of $1.25 billion. The primary driver for the deal is accessing Straight Path’s millimeter wave spectrum which will be key to building a faster 5G network.
Disruptive technology and evolving consumer habits are reshaping the telecommunications industry at a rapid pace and both Verizon and AT&T have used acquisitions to stay ahead of the curve. AT&T recently acquired Time Warner for $85 billion to gain access to its content including HBO and CNN and Verizon acquired Yahoo! for $4.83 billion to boost its digital ad business.
Consumers are dropping landlines and cable TV and moving toward online streaming, especially on mobile devices. Social media has also reshaped where viewers get information and entertainment and media companies are struggling to adapt. For Verizon, using acquisition in along with organic growth, will help the company build an infrastructure to stay relevant with consumers. A 5G network will have higher speeds and greater capacity to keep up with downloads, video streaming, and other smart devices like Alexa, Google Home, or even automated vehicles. Companies that can anticipate and capture future consumer demand will remain successful and continue to grow, while others will be left behind.
Leaders in all industries should be aware of this dynamic and consider capturing future customer demand as a major driver for strategic growth. This means giving customers what they need and also what they don’t know they need. Amazon does an excellent job of this by suggesting items in their follow up emails base on strong algorithms. Think about how you can apply this principle to your current customers and your potential future customers and how you will go about fulfilling their needs.
